Keeping Special Things Safe

Making “Special Targets” Secure

Collections such as stamps or coins, firearms, jewelry or cash are obvious targets for a burglar. These items are not only valuable, but also easy to carry and easy to resell. Don’t assume that because you have them tucked away thieves don’t know how to get to them. Robbers know where to look: bottom of dresser drawer, under the mattress etc…

Your best option for keeping precious items safe is a safe-deposit box. However, safe-deposit boxes can’t hold much and you are limited to bank hours if you want access to your belongings.

Home Safes

Before purchasing a home safe, think about what features you want it to have. A good safe will have an Underwriters Laboratories rating. Fire resistant safes will have an insulation of fire clay. Fire safe features vary from protecting your paper documents up to one hour at 1,700 degrees to up to four hours at 2,000 degrees. The safety of your valuable documents depends on the class of safe you choose. You can also purchase safes specialized in protecting computer equipment such as disks or tapes from data loss.

For safes designed to protect against building destruction you will pay a hefty price, but know they have passed extensive testing.

Money chests which are attached to your home’s structure are smaller in size and actually higher in price. They are UL-rated according to their ability to resist tool break-ins, torches and explosives.  Those that are able to withstand tools are also listed with the number of minutes the safe can resist entrance. For example a UL rating of TL -15 means the safe can hold up with a tool break-in up to 15 minutes of continuous drilling.

Money chests are best installed in to a masonry wall or floor because, while heavy, the money chest can be lifted and taken so a burglar can open the safe later.

Combination safes have a burglar-resistant money chest inside a fire-resistant safe. Combination safes have thick steel walls, an even thicker door and a combination lock with a relocking device. If the lock is attacked with tools, it will lock permanently until it is drilled out. A combination lock can be bolted to the floor like a money chest. This will prevent the entire safe from being taken. The best is a safe that is actually set in concrete in a foundation wall or floor.