Safes are a must if you plan to store your collection at home, however, with their limited space and the vast collections many collectors possess, you personally will will have to prioritize what goes in! There are generally three types of home safes:
>fire protection
>theft protection
>fire and theft protection
If you buy the latter (fire and theft), make sure there is a UL rating of at least 1 hour at 1700 degrees Fahrenheit and make sure it has at least six live bolts. That means the bolts that engage the sides, top and bottom of the safe when the safe is closed and then locked.
Being a police officer for 30 years in Moncton, N.B. and an Arson Investigator, I've been to my fair share of fires. The #1 mistake most homeowners make is not buying the proper safes and improper placement in the residence of the safe.
Another good back up for the safe is an alarm system that is monitored 24/7. Remember, a home safe only serves one purpose: to temporarily protect your valuables "till help arrives". So this is where the alarm comes in handy, when the police are on the way, most good safes will hold off for at least 60-90 minutes for the common criminal armed usually with five and dime tools. This will give adequate time for police to attend and search your residence.
Keep in mind that 99% of safe attacks are committed by common criminals (non-professional)with no idea the safe was in the residence, however, stumbled on it because the homeowner did not take the time to hide it in a discreet area.
Another must is to "bolt" down the safe. All safes come with a bolt down kit, usually 4 lag bolts between 4"-6" long, two made for wood and the other 2 made for concrete.
The pricier the safe, generally means the better quality protection you get, after all, remember what your momma always said, " you get what you pay for", and that's the truth when it comes to safes.
I've seen many safe attacks over the years, and some of these were not cheap/inexpensive safes either, but the reason they failed was simple, the safe had no alarm back up. The residence was not alarmed, leaving the thieves all the time in the world to attack while the homeowners were away for 2 weeks vacationing.
Also a 1 hour UL rating at 1700 degrees will give most fire departments time to attack a fire before it gets that hot in the area where your safe would be stored. Basements are obviously the best place to keep a safe, however, we must keep in mind mildew and flooding. There are safes on the market today with that third feature, flood protection. You will pay a premium, but then again, isn't your Collection worth it?
Glenn
Posted 06/09/2012 12:58 pm
