Value Safes

Home safes are a good investment.  Think about the valuable documents you have around the house - what would it take to replace them if they were stolen or destroyed in a fire?  And what about valuable jewelry and cash?  If you’re considering purchasing a home safe, make sure that it carries a good burglary and fireproof rating.  Example burglary ratings are UL TL 15 and UL TL 30.  These ratings ensure that the safe has been tested against attempts to open it by professionals.

Example fireproof ratings include a 1-hour fireproof rating and a 2-hour fireproof rating.  These ratings mean that the safe has been tested under actual fire conditions to make certain that the contents remained safe from fire and water damage.  Also, if you choose a cabinet style safe, be sure to use the boltholes in the bottom to bolt the safe down - this will ensure that it is not carried off by determined thieves.  For more information on home safes.

Buying a safe and placing it in a closet may seem like a good idea, but if it’s not bolted down it can be carried off by a determined burglar.  Most burglars don’t have the skills necessary to quickly access a good safe, but if they carry it off where they have time to work on it, that’s a different matter.  So look for a safe that includes boltholes in the bottom.  These boltholes go clear through the bottom of the safe, so you have to unlock the safe to gain acess to the nuts that have the safe bolted down.

If you’re having a new house built, make sure that they include the bolts in the concrete foundation or wood floor.  If you have an existing house, go ahead and take the trouble to have the bolts installed or install them yourself - your safe may not be really protecting anything if you don’t.  Also, be sure to check the burglary and fireproof rating of the safe you purchase for an even more secure setup.

You want to make certain that a fireproof home safe really would protect your valuable documents in the event of a fire.  Here are a few things to look for to make sure.  First, the safe should carry a fireproof rating.  Ratings are typically given in hours, such as a 1-hour fireproof rating.  This means that the safe has undergone a certain test - it was subjected to an actual 1700 degree F fire for a period of 1 hour, and the temperature inside the safe never got above 350 degrees F.  This is a low enough temperature to prevent permanent damage to documents and other valuables.

To make sure the rating is valid, examine the safe.  You should see extra thickness in the door and walls due to the fireproof insulating material, and their should be a special seal around the door that expands when it gets hot - this keeps the water used to put out the fire from getting inside the safe.  Finally, you might also want to consider getting a fireproof home safe that has a burglary rating as well.  Then you can rest assured that your valuables are safe from fire and burglars as well.

Jewelry safes offer a high degree of security for your valuables.   Jewelry safes carry a burglary rating, such as the UL TL 15 or TL 30 rating.  This rating means that the jewelry safes have been tested against attempts to open them.  For example, a TL 15 rating means that a professional locksmith using common locksmithing tools was unable to open the safe in a period of 15 minutes.

Jewelry safes are constructed of special materials.  They usually have 5″ thick doors and 1-1/2″ thick steel bodies.  They use 1-1/2″ steel locking bolts, and the locking mechanism is surrounded by drill-resistant hardened steel plate.  They are designed to be bolted to the floor from the inside.  So if you want the most in security for your valuables, consider getting a jewelry safe.  For more information on jewelry safes.

Fire safes are invaluable tools for protecting your valuable documents and other delicate valuables from the harmful effects of a fire, including the effects of the water used to put out the fire.  Whether it’s a home or a business, both have a lot of information and valuable items that would be hard to replace if destroyed in a fire - stock certificates, wills, business records, delicate jewelry, or even computer backup data.  Fire safes are well worth the investment if you ever go through a fire situation.

Fire safes are usually given a rating in hours, which tell how long the safe would protect its contents during an actual fire situation.   For example, fire safes with a rating of 1 hour have been tested to withstand the effects of a 1700 degree F fire for a period of 1 hour, without the temperature inside the safe rising above 350 degrees F.  This is a low enough temperature to protect most items from permanent damage.  Special media safes are available that bring this temperature down to 80 degrees F, to protect valuable computer backup media.   So why not purchase a little insurance against the effects of a fire by getting a fire safe for your home and/or business?

A wall safe is a safe that is mounted in a wall and usually hidden behind something such as a picture or wall hanging.  They get most of their security from the fact that they are hidden - a thief can’t break into something that they don’t know is  there.  They are usually mounted to studs in the wall, but for even more protection consider having one concreted in place.  A wall safe with a good burglary rating encased in concrete is about as secure as you can get.  Wall safes are available in a variety of sizes - think about what you need to store  in the safe to determine what size you will need.

Consider getting a wall safe that also carries a fireproof rating - this will protect your documents and delicate valuables from the effects of a fire, including protection from damage by the water used to put the fire out.  Choose an unobtrusive location for your wall safe and hide it behind something that doesn’t look out of place.  Statistics show that the average time spent by a burglar in your home is only 8 minutes, so they’re likely to concentrate on objects that  are in plain site.  So why not purchase a little peace of mind today by buying a wall safe?

If you’re not keeping your valuable documents and other valuables in a home safe, you probably should be.  Think about what it would take to replace your will or your stock certificates, to say nothing about the fact that the stock certificates are negotiable.  Or what about your valuable jewelry or pistols?  Home safes are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are surprisingly affordable for the peace of mind they offer.  First, consider where you are going to keep the safe and what needs to go into it.  Then you have an idea of the size and shape you need.

Next you can think about what type of locking mechanism you want - there’s a choice between a traditional mechanical combination dial, an electronic keypad type that uses a pin number to open the safe, or even biometric models that open the safe by scanning your fingerprint.  Next, consider the fire and burglary rating of the  safe.  Look for a 1 or 2 hour fire rating and a 15 or 30 minute burglary rating.  So what not start looking for a home safe today?  More information on home safes.

Your jewelry and other valuable collections need ultimate protection from theft and fire. Choose jewelry safes that have these features:~fireproof aspect and lifetime fire warranty
~massive solid steel locking bolts
~extra thick wall and doors
~reinforced jambs and burglary resistant concealed hinges
~can be bolted down to almost any surface and has pre-drilled anchor holes/mounting kit

I have been collecting a series of articles on home safes. See below for another. The below article is about the “run on the banks” in Jacksonville.  Notice that not many news sources are touting this!  This is very real and the FDIC is reporting having run out of money. 

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Buyouts, bailouts, and banks going bust. Everyone, it seems, is worried about whether their money is safe.

Federal data shows domestic bank deposits have dropped by 40 billion dollars over the last few months; and that has a lot more folks buying home safes. One manufacturer says it’s sold 50% more in the last month alone.

Knowell’s Safe and Lock on the Westside is having its biggest year ever. Business started picking up in May and it hasn’t stopped yet. “With the scare in the financial industry and the banking industry, banks closing down, being bought out, it’s a good fear having somebody play with your money, or you being able to watch it,” said Brett Webb at Knowell’s.

Webb’s grandfather started the business 30 years ago. Business has always been good, but now it’s really good. “It started back in May. It might have had something to do with the stimulus checks. It probably did help,” said Webb.

The best sellers are the large walk-in gun safes, even if the buyer doesn’t own a gun. “You get fire protection with a gun safe and a lot of space. Even people who don’t collect guns, you have plenty of shelf space.”

The safes are delivered and installed in homes so no one can come into your home and walk out the door with it, but the key is not to let anyone know you have a safe with valuables including cash in your home.

Home safes can cost between $200 and $3000.

Living in an apartment complex can have downfalls. Even those who live in apartments with secured entrances aren’t always safe from burglars.In larger complexes, it’s impossible to know all your neighbors and their visitors. Apartments allow thieves ample opportunity to gain entrance into a building. Maybe you haven’t let anyone in after you, but your neighbors probably have. Some apartment front entrances don’t even have a lock.

Making sure your own apartment and its contents are secure should be a priority. It may not seem practical to install added security features, like wall safes or alarms, into a rented apartment, but you’ll think differently after your dwelling has been ransacked, and your possessions stolen.

If limited funds won’t permit you to buy security features, the next best bet is to choose good hiding places for your valuables. Home security experts recommend hiding things in places like: the dirty clothes hamper, in a garbage can (between the bag and the can), and in food containers (like cereal boxes).

Leaving expensive items strewn about is the worst thing to do, and don’t hide anything in your underwear drawer—robbers figured that one out a long time ago.