I'd like to suggest this because it would make the characters living there not risk losing items they want others to have in the herbal baskets and such. And there wont* be much stealing.. Because they all work together, so they say. Tis' but a suggestion.
As a counterpoint, though:
Not having any persistent storage in the wilderness encourages wildsmen to interact more, thus increasing entertainment and conflict!
Gaeserics should not have Persistent storage. There is no reason to.
Gaeseric should BE persistant storage, IMO.
I think maybe having a persistent storage that doesn't have a lock would be interesting. What is the need for locks when everyone (in theory) knows each other. That would allow sneaks and the like a chance to tempt their fate.
If anything, I'd love to see some type of general "Trash" pile at least so we aren't littering the area with items.