Surely someone isn't this dumb...

Glock 40 · Dec 31, 2019

Yup a 18 or 20v angle grinder can make quick work of lots of safes. If you really start researching these things are RSC or residential storage containers. The cheap ones aren't very thick at all. Its costs a lot of money to get a big thick heavy safe.

kirk1978 · Dec 31, 2019

Piece of plywood and that baby will be good as new!!

Snattlerake · Dec 31, 2019

blake711 said:
Yup a 18 or 20v angle grinder can make quick work of lots of safes. If you really start researching these things are RSC or residential storage containers. The cheap ones aren't very thick at all. Its costs a lot of money to get a big thick heavy safe.

The real trick is to have a safe that is layered with different materials. Thin sheets of copper, lead, steel, concrete, aluminum, etc will thwart most torches and grinders. What do you think most vaults are made of? Let me tell you just drilling 6 inches into a bank vault to get new wires inside took 32 drill bits and a full day.

Tanis143 · Jan 1, 2020

Whats funny is that where I bought my safe they explained this to me. I did get one of the lower end safes (bought from Security Center Inc, in house brand, Dakota Badland series) but it had some good features. However, they explained that an experienced criminal can get access fairly quickly with cutting tools. The safe is a deterrent, it keeps the simple burglary suspect from just picking up my items and walking out.

Aries · Jan 1, 2020

The thing about any kind of security is you probably can't make anything absolutely secure. So you're trying to improve your odds.

If you leave your gun laying outside in the driveway, someone passing by will easily take it. It's just a matter of time.
If you keep it inside your house, you protect it from passersby, but someone intent on breaking in and going through your stuff can still get it.
If you put it in a safe, you prevent the rumagers, but someone who knows or thinks you might have a safe can open it with tools, planning, and enough time.
If you have a heavy duty, reinforced safe, it will take someone with more knowledge, better tools, and even more time.
If you could build a bank vault, there are people who can get into those too, but they are even more rare.

So get the best you can afford, understanding that it may not ABSOLUTELY prevent someone from stealing your stuff, but the harder you make it the better your odds of protecting it. Most of the time, someone is not going to stay in your house 30 minutes generating a lot of noise to open a safe, so while it may not be perfect it's better than hiding it under the bed. It's way better than leaving it in the driveway.

TerryMiller · Jan 1, 2020

Let me preface all my comments with the caveat that I sincerely recommend people keep their valuables in a safe, particularly so with firearms.

However, one's location can make a world of difference. We live full time in an RV and have traveled around to and spent considerable time in Colorado, Oregon, and Utah before returning for a spell to Oklahoma. RV'ers tend to be an honest bunch of people. For instance, there are storage areas in what we call the "basement" of the RV with outside access through lockable doors. If a criminal wants into that "basement," he will do much more damage to the RV than what the stuff he takes is worth. So, unless we are actually traveling from one place to another, I never lock the basement doors. Been living this way since Spring of 2011 and have NEVER lost a thing to a thief.

So, where one chooses to live is important to how secure one's belongings are. Also, not "advertising" the presence of firearms and stuff with stickers on the vehicles or residence that relate to firearms also helps. That way, they don't get any clues.

GlockPride · Jan 1, 2020

Aries said:
The thing about any kind of security is you probably can't make anything absolutely secure. So you're trying to improve your odds.

So get the best you can afford, understanding that it may not ABSOLUTELY prevent someone from stealing your stuff, but the harder you make it the better your odds of protecting it. Most of the time, someone is not going to stay in your house 30 minutes generating a lot of noise to open a safe, so while it may not be perfect it's better than hiding it under the bed. It's way better than leaving it in the driveway.

Good thoughts. Layering defenses is just like home security, and in many ways are one and the same. You’re building layers that slow, delay or increase exposure time trying to access. So, just like you need a large, thick metal safe bolted to the wall and ground and the opening side close to a wall, but you also need perimeter defense. Placing the safe in a hidden area may be even better. Lights, no large foliage or obstructions around the house, dogs, lights, cameras, etc. If you’re traveling then lights and noise that come on periodically could be helpful, and someone getting your mail, packages and trash can. Window and door bars. We are also part of an active neighborhood HOA that is very watchful and on-point.

Just make yourself a harder target. Add layers, add steps, just make it harder for the average criminal and insurance for the determined ones.

TwoForFlinching · Jan 1, 2020

TerryMiller said:
Also, not "advertising" the presence of firearms and stuff with stickers on the vehicles or residence that relate to firearms also helps. That way, they don't get any clues.

+1... I know a few different people that have 'Come and Take It' stickers on their cars, and someone ended up coming and taking their stuff. Lots of smash and grabs in Lawton/any military town. I leave a broken FIE (gave a guy $10 for it) on top of my safe in the event someone does break in. Maybe they'll get so excited they'll make their exit and only realize later the gun has no firing pin on the hammer.

Glock 40 · Jan 1, 2020

Or just look at nextdoor app and find a neighborhood with a bunch of nosey people looking for stuff to complain about. Someone always knows whats going on and has pictures to prove it. They will watch your place like its Fort Knox and provide updates to the whole city.

Tanis143 · Jan 1, 2020

This is why I keep all but one firearm in my safe when not carried/in use. I do have pictures of all my firearms that show the serial number just in case, and I have those pictures backed up three different ways. I bought the safe I could afford but made sure it wasn't some SentrySafe or FirstAlert job either. The Badlands series from Dakota has a lot of good features but in the end it still has just metal sides, so yes it can be cut open. And with how easy I saw these guys get the safe in the house I have no doubt someone with the right tools and a bit of time could make off with my safe (did the stupid thing and not have SCI bolt it to the floor. I blame my wife, she didn't know where it would best fit in the closet). But, a regular burglar would not just be able to walk off with my whole gun collection and that's the point.

Surely someone isn't this dumb...

Glock 40

Problem Solver

kirk1978

Sharpshooter

Snattlerake

Conservitum Americum

Tanis143

Sharpshooter

Aries

Sharpshooter

TerryMiller

Sharpshooter

GlockPride

Sharpshooter

TwoForFlinching

Sharpshooter

Glock 40

Problem Solver

Tanis143

Sharpshooter

Similar threads

Latest posts

Surely someone isn't this dumb...

Problem Solver

Sharpshooter

Conservitum Americum

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter

Problem Solver

Sharpshooter

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!