how to crack a safe?

Question

we have a safe at work. I havent seen it for ten years. The mystery is whats in it? the key and number cannot be found

a lock smith wants £500 to open it. they asked me an engineer to look at it. I cut my finger moving it ten years ago its pay back time.

I dont think the burning tackle will help I think the hinges are only the primary obstical. The are probably dead bolts. It has a key hole has well has the dial. Should I burn through the key hole and locks or the hinges or both?( It could fuse weld the lock) Its about four foot square and weights about a ton. Although I have no claim to its contents should I open it I will reveal them

Answer 1

We used to have one too...and also no key.

Sledgehammers will barely dent it...gas torches make a mess, but they DO work...and don't incinerate the contents if done right.

Most of these old safes are made from cast iron...some are cast steel - door and walls are about 2 to 3" thick. The weak point is the side where the door hinges. If you try to just take off the hinges, the locking pins/bars will still hold it in place. Take the SIDE section off at the hinge side. Gas torch is fastest way...or a plasma cutter. But failing that - an powerful grinder and a lot of cutting disks.

If it is cast iron and you feel brave. Leave the safe in the cold (outside), and batter the living daylights out of it as chilled cast iron is 'easier' to crack than room temperature.

I've seen this work on TV (factual) before:
Seal door with tape, Drill hole in it - fill with water & pop in an 'explosive charge' - the pressure wave blows the door open.

Answer 2

It depends how old the safe is. Cutting the hinges will have no effect whatsoever as the door is held in place by deadbolts on the hinged side and locking bolts on the other. A crowbar will not work at all!

You will only get into it by using a thermic lance. You might be able to hire one somewhere but you'd have a bit of explaining to do because they eat through any metal like butter and are known to be used for safecracking. Cut through the back of the safe which is often weaker - just cut a reactangular hole about 12 inches across and about 8 inches deep. This is called a 'hand hole' by the pros. Let it COOL DOWN for a good number of hours! Then, put your hand in and have a feel around.

That's about it. If the hire charge is £200 or so, you're in pocket. If it's more, then hire the locksmith for £500. However, I'd shop around first. there are lots of locksmiths.

Answer 3

Try and find a cheaper quote, sound a bit high priced.

Reminds me of about 25 years ago when a friend of mine bought an office which had a huge safe, but the suggested key would not turn. They called in a locksmith, who said 'Oh! - an old mark 6 Smith and Johnston' or similar. Then measured 13" down from top right and then 24" left. Whacked the spot with a heavy hammer, then turned the key which opened it! He then produced a bill for £150.00 or something, when the price was queried becuse he had only been there for about 3 minutes, he replied, 'Yes, but I knew where to hit it!!'

Answer 4

Get a drill, eye protection, and ear muffs. Go to work on the lock - it is the weakness in the safe. They make many of the parts round to give drills a hard time, but it'll probably be faster. Give yourself a few days to work on it, especially for the first time.

Also look up the manufacturer and see if you can find out anything on the way they manufacture & build the parts. The more you know the quicker it will be.

Answer 5

The opening paragraph of my source article say's it all.....

"In the movies, master thieves and spies can deftly defeat a safe in a matter of seconds using little more than steady hands and a good ear. Safecracking isn't really that easy of course, but expert safecrackers really can get through just about any lock mechanism. It's a matter of having the right tools, the right skills and plenty of patience"

If you dont have the right tools and skill you've got no chance of craking it. Any other way of entry (cutting/explosives/water) will most likely damage the contents.

Answer 6

positioned some style of goggles, ski or diy glasses interior the motor vehicle, and the telephone style of Autoglass. it may be ok yet whilst the demonstrate screen does go you will could desire to force with a 50mph wind on your face! there's a definite speed at which a number of the air will go over the motor vehicle, between 40 and 50. a protracted crack skill the demonstrate screen will could desire to get replaced, they gained't do a restore. human beings around right here force for years with a cracked demonstrate screen yet legally whether that's interior the section which the driving force's wiper blade sweeps it extremely is going to be fastened. the forged element is that a clean demonstrate screen is lots clearer than the old one, we don't be conscious each and all of the little scratches till they are not there!

Answer 7

Check out totse.com:
http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/locks_and_security/

Personally i would have blow off the door using nytroglicerine or sodium (and burn it). But, as most people said, you could burn the inside (which you proberly don't want). And it's quiet dangerous.

You could als try to drill the lock and dismantle the whole safe... But you should have a lot of time...

Answer 8

Why do you think they want £500? Because it's a specialist job mate. Safe openers aren't your normal locksmiths they are the elite

Answer 9

the best way i can think of is to rent a gas powered rotary cutting saw like they use for cutting concrete and steel .. and get a couple of extra blades ... unless its really a heavy duty thick safe that should do the trick without destroying the contents ...
http://www.tfhrc.gov/structur/pubs/04090/images/image064.jpg

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Answer 10

buy an axe and a sledgehammer and safety glasses

have one person hold the axe on the hinge-edges and another person hit the axe-head with the sledge.

you'll screw up the axe-blade but it might get you into the safe.

having a crow-bar would be handy too perhaps