So I decided to contact the owners of a locker to see how it would go. Overall pretty well! And...worth it I think. So this is how and why:
1. I use a Google voice number. Not linked to me or anything I do. This is my "i am going to talk to potentially bad people" number.
2. I'm polite, explain I've lost my own locker before, and tell them I went through and got a bunch of their photos out-and left them with the storage facility for them to retrieve free of charge, and ask if there was anything they might want that has personal value that isn't a photo etc.
3. I don't call voice, I do this through text messages.
Now...why?
Well to be honest...Karma. 90% of people dont KNOW they get their pictures back.
and....it sometimes tells me things I didn't know. For example if they ask for a item back, investigating it has revealed that the $2 item is actually a $400 item. Yes that item your grandfather gave you before he died is of immense personal value to you.....uh huh.
On the other hand...that cast that has a signature of your deceased husband on it for your daughter whose dad passed away? Yeah I can arrange for that to be given back by adding it to the box at the facility.
So far most people have been very appreciative surprisingly enough. I'm still never meeting them in person.