When it comes to safes, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there about how they work and how to open them. Keep reading for more information! Here, we’re going to debunk some of those myths and give you an overview of the different methods that locksmiths use to open safes.
Reasons Why Safe Won’t Open?
It can be stressful for homeowners or business managers to have trouble opening a combination safe. However, don’t panic and avoid taking drastic measures that could cause damage. The first step in opening a safe is to identify the problem.
Combination Of The Safe Misplaced Or Forgotten
Take a break if you can’t remember the safe combination. Although it may sound like a useless tip, sometimes the thing you’re trying to remember will return if you focus on another task for a brief period. To ensure that the combination has not been changed, you should check with anyone who has physical access to the safe.
If the combination isn’t altered since its original purchase, you may be able to fix the problem quickly. Contact the manufacturer to find the serial number. It is usually located on the side of the safe or the back panel. They may be able to retrieve the combination for your benefit.
A skilled locksmith should manipulate the lock if this is not possible. Thanks to Hollywood movies, this is the method we associate with breaking safes. A locksmith can unlock the safe by listening to the sounds it makes and the vibrations it produces when it turns. This method is fast and doesn’t damage the integrity of your safe.
Combination Not Working
The first step to opening a safe is usually to open it. If the safe’s combination is correct, but the door does not open, it could be a problem with the hinges or lever rather than the locking mechanism. You can increase your chances of success by applying grease to the hinges.
This is the most inefficient way to open a combination of safety. It should be used with care as it can cause irreparable damage.
You must ensure that you use the correct method to open the combination lock. This video will help you remember how to do it.
Combination dial Loose, or Not Rotating Completely
If a dial appears to stick on several stops rotating, it is a sign that there is a bigger problem. Before you take any further steps, make sure to check with the manufacturer. The manufacturer might send an expert out to help if the product is still under warranty.
A locksmith should contact safes that are not under warranty. The internal parts of the lock may have become worn or damaged to the point where they block the dial.
Ways To Open Safes
The following methods are the best ways to open a safe without causing too much damage.
Safecracking
Safecracking is not new. Safecracking has been around for as long as safes. This is not a comprehensive history of safecracking or a “how-to” guide. This post is meant to provide a basic understanding of the profession for the general public. The primary concern of locksmiths and thieves is safe cracking or opening safes. It is not only the concern of thieves, but locksmiths also have legitimate reasons to crack safes. These include lost combinations, safe lock malfunctions, fires, and burglary attempts. We will discuss safecracking, or safe opening, regardless of the reason.
You Can Open The Safe
This is the most effective, oldest, and most commonly used method to get into a safe. When it works, it is easy to pry open the door and remove the bolt from the door frame. This is my experience with burglary attempts. The majority of prying attempts fail to gain access to safes. Any safe can be broken into with enough energy, strength, and time. But burglars rarely have the time.
Cutting Into The Safe
Professional criminals use the most common cutting method into safes, using a torch or a saw. Experienced safe technicians sometimes use it. Although it’s a great way to gain entry to a safe, it can be slow, noisy, and messy. Modern high-security safes include a composite barrier that provides for copper plates. This plate dissipates heat from a torch and slows down the attack. Many safes also have a layer of tar as a barrier to prevent smoke from escaping during torch attacks. High-security safes also use a mixture of materials in their barrier to make cutting a saw blade a tedious, expensive, messy, and time-consuming task.
Safe Manipulation
Safe manipulation refers to the act of locating the safe’s combination by the sound or touch of the safe in certain situations. Many safe locks can make a subtle sound or resist physical pressure when dialed in a certain manner due to manufacturing tolerances. This requires a deep understanding of the lock being used, patience, and extensive experience. Professional safecrackers should only use this method. Safe technicians often utilize stethoscopes to amplify the subtle sounds of the lock, which is similar to what you see in movies. While some safe manipulators can do the job in just a few minutes, most professionals take at least an hour to accomplish this task. This safecracking technique is widely respected because it leaves no trace and leaves the safe in perfect condition.
Drilling The Safe
Professional, safe technicians also use drilling to access safes. Drilling is a practical way to access safes equipped with electronic locks or manipulating resistant locks. This requires intimate knowledge of the safe and lock being opened. It is possible to create a small hole in the safe that allows it to be opened using a precision instrument through the hole. Or so that it can be visually inspected to determine the correct dialing of the mechanical safe open. Although this sounds simple, there are many complexities. High-security safes use “hard plates,” or barrier materials, that can eat entire boxes of drill bits in a matter of minutes. Drill bits and specialist drill rigs can only break these barriers and rigid plates. It is also necessary to have a good understanding of the container and lock. A “glass relocker” is another common obstacle to drilling. A sheet of glass is placed behind the safe and has many spring-loaded re-locking bars attached by a cable. The glass plate is broken by the drill bit striking it. This allows the re-lockers, usually positioned in strategic locations, to block bolt work and lock it down 10x more than it was usually locked. The tear gas canister is an uncommon but widely used defense method. It is activated by drilling or punching, and releases tear gas through the punched or drilled hole. Talk about a terrible day! Untrained burglars or undertrained locksmiths often fail to drill. Drilling is a practical and standard commercial method to open safes. Simple repairs can be made to the lock or container to be more functional. However, cutting or prying could cause the safe to become unusable. The hole can often be hidden under the dial or dial rings so that there is no evidence of drilling when the new lock is installed.
Identifying The Safe
Scoring a safe involves:
- Drilling a hole.
- Inserting a specialized borescope.
- Getting a close look at a particular part of the security container.
Scoring is the best option when security measures are implemented using manipulation-proof mechanical locks and glass relockers. A common technique is “scoping the keyhole.” This allows the safecracker to drill a hole that will enable him to position his scope to view the keyhole. It is possible to get the combination by spinning the dial, looking through the keyhole for landmarks on the combination lock’s wheel pack. This is an excellent option for professionals who are skilled in safe repair. The lock will remain in good condition and can be reopened with minimal maintenance. Because of the cost and in-depth knowledge of locking systems, criminals rarely use such techniques.
Safe Opening Locksmith in Toronto, Canada
GR Locksmith is a fully licensed and insured locksmith company that can help you with all of your safe opening needs. We have been in the industry for over 30 years, so we know what it takes to get into any safe. Call us today at 647-559-2255 to find out more about our services!