Really, Safes Are Not So Safe?
There are different types of burglaries:
Crimes of opportunity are unplanned and last a brief number of minutes. They are less likely to be perpetrated by “professional” burglars, so the criminals may not be sophisticated enough or have time enough to invest in uncovering a wall safe—typically hidden behind hanging artwork. If they do find it, the safe will likely thwart them.
A planned burglary or one committed by “professionals,” might go a little differently. The same is true for a planned or targeted crime, like when you are known to have something of value, like precious coins or a reputation for flashing a lot of cash. The burglars will know to look for a safe and may have tools to overcome it. For a wall safe, it requires only one common tool: a reciprocating saw.
A floor-standing safe is penetrable, but it takes a bigger set of more exotic tools and time. Floor safes are heavy and hard to haul off so that is unlikely to happen, but not impossible.
A wall safe doesn’t have to be opened at the victim’s location. It can be carried away and dealt with elsewhere. For the typical US home, wall safes are installed in wood framed walls, between a pair of 2×4’s. That means that breaking into the safe is unnecessary. A rechargeable reciprocating saw (often called a Sawzall) is all that is needed. The drywall and studs mounting the wall safe can be cut through effortlessly and fairly quickly—reasonably quietly too. Then the safe and it’s mounting can be carried away to be dealt with remotely.
Another scenario is much worse. If a safe is discovered, it signals that there are likely desirable valuables within, so burglars might decide to make a second visit to the home. For that return call, they may not wait for the premises to be empty. They might decide to invade the home when the homeowner is there, to force them to open the safe. That’s a big danger, upscaling a burglary to potential human harm.
A home invasion, either on the spur of the moment or planned, carries similar risks. You might be able to give invaders cash, jewelry, electronics or whatever and they’ll hopefully leave, if they don’t have other intentions. If they find a safe, they surely will demand its opening. Making a stand and refusing to open it can be extremely dangerous to everyone present in your home.
The decision to have a home safe or not comes down to personal preference and weighing the associated risks. However, the rationale behind needing a safe may not be clear-cut. Are you primarily interested in long-term storage for valuables like precious metals, collectibles, or important documents? Or do you have items that require frequent access, such as jewelry, cash, or firearms? It’s also possible that you need a solution that caters to both long-term and frequent-use storage needs. Identifying your specific requirements is an essential step in determining if a safe is the right choice for you.
For secure long-term storage of valuables, consider investing in a custom-built, camouflaged safe. High-end models are engineered to be extremely difficult to detect by metal detectors and other sensing devices, offering exceptional security through their covert design. However, this added layer of security can pose a challenge if you need frequent or speedy access to the contents. While these safes provide outstanding protection, their enhanced security features may hinder swift entry, making them less ideal if you require the ability to quickly retrieve valuables on a regular basis.
For short term more readily accessible options, plain sight safes can be a good choice. A plain sight safe is built into ordinary household items or furniture. Valuables are camouflaged within the active spaces of the home where perpetrators don’t think to look. Typically, these safes have smaller storage compartments than built-ins or traditional safes, but they offer relatively quick access.
State of Readiness can help educate you on options for securing your valuables so that you can have peace of mind and the highest level of security for your family’s needs. If you choose either a custom built safe or a plain sight safe, State of Readiness can custom design and construct a solution that meets your family’s exact needs.