Do You Need a Home Safe?
SAFE DEPOSIT BOX USERS:
Safe deposit boxes are used by thousands but their access is limited to the bank’s hours. they are not insured by the government, they may be sealed by the IRS or sealed by the bank upon a death. if something happens at the bank with your safety deposit box, like a fire, theft, natural or man-made disasters, or even negligence by employees, the banks are exempt. You really have less protection than you are lead to believe.
IRS RULES:
Your bank account and safe deposit box may be seized by the IRS in a dispute over taxes owed. if the IRS seizes your safe deposit box, you may have to go to court to get it back. but on the up side, you may claim a one time exemption for a home safe if it is used for keeping tax records secure.
BURGLARY:
In the latest stats from the Shreveport Police, I see that some areas in our town average more than one burglary or theft from a residence a day. some habits are expensive to maintain and the addicts aren’t going to leave town.
Homes with sliding patio doors are the hardest to secure. High Security locks are needed on all doors & windows, especially if you find yourself in an area like the one mentioned above.
Some families place valuables in a cabinet that is easily opened with a screwdriver. some even keep valuable papers, emergency cash, and jewelry in a little tin box from a drugstore or superstore. if they realized how easy it was to break into and the difficulty it is to replace discharge papers, birth certificates, etc, they would seek better security.
USED SAFES:
Many old fashioned, free standing safes are nice to look at but are as easily opened as the ones you see in the movies. Burglars can also wheel them to the garage, or to the truck waiting outside, and open when no one can see or hear them.
Older used safes have no UL rating and the insurance companies will not cover them because of the insulation properties have disappeared over the years.
SECURITY TIPS:
Most older homes do not have a built in safe and only some newer ones do. Home safes are a tradition in Europe and South America, and have been for generations. the best place to hide a safe is in the floor or in a blind space. the most common blind spaces are found under stairs or in a utility closet. A floor safe is installed in the ground and secured by pouring concrete around it. with the lid on and the carpet laid back, it is invisible and may be walked on or a piece of furniture may be placed over it. It will rarely be discovered and even if found, would take special equipment to penetrate. It usually offers more fire protection than standard safes. It’s also possible to enclose a safe in an end table or other common household objects.
Either key locks, mechanical combination locks, or electronic combo locks are available for all types of safes. Square door safes have larger openings and make using them easier. Lift out doors maybe too much weight for some people to lift comfortably, so make sure you order a safe that has a hinged door.
Duel purpose safes are available that offer both fire and burglary protection. they are rated at a UL lab and are acceptable to any insurance companies for any purpose.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION:
The whole transaction can be handled confidentially. You can set-up the installation so the kids are at school and insist that the installer uses an unmarked vehicle. your neighbors wont know that you bought a safe, and no one else will either unless you tell them.
Only one copy of the combination exists. Most locksmiths keep no records of combos, and there are over a million combinations that are possible, so it is vital to keep track of it. the combos can be changed if and when this is needed.
Thank you for taking the time to read all this information to help you determine if you need a home safe. if you have any further questions, please call your local locksmith, they will be glad to answer any and all problems, and if they can’t, then don’t use them.
