When you hear the word “safecracking,” images of a burglar trying to break into a safe or bank vault probably come to mind. While attempted robbery certainly is one type of safecracking, there is also perfectly legal safecracking that can be performed by a professional locksmith. This post will teach you the ins and outs to expand your safecracking knowledge.
Illegal safecracking techniques
The most common safecracking method involves drilling a hole into the face of the lock and then using a rod to push or bend the lock’s levers out of place. Once the levers are out of the way, the robber can easily open the safe and steal the money, documents or other items inside.
Another method is lock manipulation, where the safe is opened without defacing the lock or safe. We see this technique used in heist movies, where the character will open the lock by listening to the lock’s contact points while moving the wheel. What the movies don’t show, though, is that this technique requires a ton of time, patience and safecracking knowledge.
Essentially, the robber must carefully listen to the lock to determine its contact points, mark the results and finally try a number of possible combinations until the lock finally opens. This method can take hours, so it’s not the preferred method for bad guys.
A robber can also use oxy-acetylene torches or plasma cutters to bore through the actual safe. While this method doesn’t require as much time, it does create a ton of smoke, which can alert the authorities that something fishy is going on.
Safecracking penalties
Whether it’s opened with a plasma torch or drill or through lock manipulation, unauthorized safecracking is undoubtedly a crime. Safecracking carries the same penalty as burglary under Virginia law, so the penalties can be severe. Depending on what’s stolen, the burglar can spend years locked up in a federal prison.
Under Virginia law, safecracking also refers to the act of stealing the safe and then opening it at a different location. So even if the burglars don’t take the time to open the safe at the business, they’re still committing the same crime later on.
Legal safecracking
Safecracking can also be a legal practice if it’s performed by a reputable locksmith. Pros will often use the lock manipulation technique mentioned above instead of drilling, but if the safe must be drilled, pros follow quite a few safety tips with safecracking to prevent permanently damaging the safe or destroying the contents stored inside.
Don’t try to open your safe by yourself
It takes years of practice and training for a locksmith to open safes successfully without causing any damage. Needless to say, it’s not a DIY job! So, if you find yourself locked out of your safe, call our team at Artie’s Lock and Key. We follow all safety tips with safecracking to ensure we don’t damage your safe or your precious belongings.
Whether you have a commercial safe or a personal one, hire our team to open it quickly and efficiently.
Do you need to change the combination on your lock? Depending on the style and location of the lock, this can prove to be a tricky process. Fortunately, a qualified safe cracker in Fairfax, VA is here to help.
Before you try to change your security lock in Fairfax, VA on your own, start with the following questions. This will guide you in changing your combination lock. Once you’ve answered these, use the tips at the bottom to make your lock change as smooth as possible.
Where is the combination lock installed?
On what object is the security lock in Fairfax, VA installed? Safe locks are typically more complicated to change than lockers, for example. The level of complexity should tell you how much time you’ll need to change the lock and what skill level will be required to do so. In some situations, you may need a professional safe cracker in Fairfax, VA to change your combination.
Do you want to change the lock or the combination?
In many situations, two options exist to make a change to a combination lock. You can either change the combination itself, or you can change the entire combination lock. Decide which solution is appropriate for your circumstances. In some cases, such as when the current combination is unknown, it may be simpler to replace the lock itself. For help with high-tech security locks in Fairfax, VA, contact a professional to change the combination.
What is the name of the lock manufacturer?
Knowing the maker of the security lock in Fairfax, VA can help guide your efforts. You may be able to research specific techniques required that are unique to that model. If you are working with a safe cracker in Fairfax, VA, it can also be helpful to provide the name of the manufacturer to this professional to get a better idea of the potential work and cost involved in changing it.
Tips for Changing Combination Locks
When you’re ready to change your combination lock, remember:
- Don’t rush. Allow plenty of time for the task.
- Open first. Always open the lock before you try to change the combination.
- Some security locks in Fairfax, VA require a specific reset tool to change the combination.
- Unlock the lock three times with the new combination before closing a safe door.
- Many safes and other locks require the skills of a safe cracker in Fairfax, VA. Don’t hesitate to reach out for professional assistance if the job is not appropriate for a DIY project.
Get More Tips
Do you have additional questions about combination locks? For expert input, contact the team at Artie’s Lock and Key. We’ve been a premier safe cracker in Fairfax, VA since 1975. Our professionals are fully equipped with the latest tools and are trained to handle combination locks of all kinds. Contact us today to schedule your lock change or installation. Fully licensed, bonded, and insured, we are your go-to source for assistance with your security locks in Fairfax, VA!
Safes are more common in homes than most people realize. Residential safes are used to protect things that are in some way important and valuable, but choosing one is not so simple. What is it you need to protect? Do you need a heavy, yet compact safe because space is a factor? Which worries you more: the possibility of the contents of your safe being destroyed in a fire, or the possibility of their being stolen?
Before running out and purchasing just any safe, you should have an idea of what you are looking for—and who better to talk to than a licensed locksmith and safe cracker in Fairfax, VA? Below is some information about the main types of safes, including shapes, sizes and colors, as well as tips for picking the right one for your needs.
Fire safe
A fire safe is designed to protect the things locked securely inside it from fire. These types of safes are often used to protect important papers and documents from going up in flames should a fire break out in your home. A thing to note about fire safes is that they are tested based on their performance in a fire situation, rather than on their security. The criteria for fire safe testing include the temperature of the fire, length of time in minutes and how well it maintains a certain internal temperature.
Burglary safe
This type of safe is constructed to protect your valuables and precious belongings from theft. Like other types of residential safes, burglary safes are typically available in a variety of sizes, but the goal is always the same: to store important items and documents in the event of a home break-in. The right burglary safe can be effective at protecting the contents against criminals. However, they cannot guarantee protection against fire or other types of damage.
Fire and burglary safe in one
As its name implies, fire and burglary safes offer a combination of the best of both types of home safes. They are considered multi-purpose, a blend of fire safety and burglary safety to protect your possessions from thieves or fire damage. You should seriously consider this particular type of residential safe if you want to ensure all-around safety for your belongings. Or, if you need to store and protect a variety of different things, get a fire and burglary safe instead of purchasing two different safes.
Data safe
Many people have never heard of this data safe option. This type of safe is similar to fire safes, except that the qualifications for data safes are much more specific. Also, the criteria are stricter, and ratings are more difficult to achieve. When going through testing, data safes must maintain a lower internal and external temperature in a fire situation. They must also be able to protect belongings and information from a variety of other things, like electromagnetic contamination and humidity.
Need a qualified safe cracker in Fairfax, VA? Contact the reliable and trustworthy team at Artie’s Lock and Key. Call us when you need us!
Have you ever suddenly forgotten the entry code to your safe? If so, you know that it’s not a good feeling! During this discomforting time, you may be tempted to Google “how to crack a locked safe” to try to find a quick way to open a safe by yourself. However, that’s not a good idea—trying to crack a safe on your own will lead to problems 10 times out of 10. Continue reading to learn more about the dangers of trying to unlock a safe without help from a professional safe cracker in Fairfax, VA:
- Don’t override your security system: These days, safes have all sorts of backup security systems to ensure that nobody gets in without the proper code—not even the owner! That said, anyone with an internet connection can look up possible ways to try to override those systems. That’s not a good idea—one wrong move and your safe can go into a penalty lockout mode that prevents you from opening the safe unless you break it.
- Don’t mess with the wiring: Your next thought might be to disassemble the safe’s wiring. Again, steps on how to do this can likely be found with a quick Google search. However, just like trying to override the security system, this is a bad idea. There are two possible outcomes when you mess with the wiring: your safe will go into a manual lockout mode, or you’ll damage the electrical components of your safe, and it’ll be useless altogether.
- Don’t drill into a locked safe: The bad guys in heist movies always seem to try to drill into a safe to get to the goods inside. While that might work on the big screen, it’s bound to lead to a disaster in real life. Regardless of the type of safe you have, trying to drill into it will most likely break the unit, which will necessitate expensive repairs.
Things you can try
Now that you know what not to do when you’re locked out of your safe, it might be helpful to go over a few things that you can do to try to regain access:
- Call the manufacturer: First, you can try to call the manufacturer to see if they can help unlock your safe. As long as you have your safe’s serial number or can prove that the safe is actually yours, the manufacturer might be able to recommend some tips to reset your entry code.
- Call a safe cracker: Have no fear if your manufacturer can’t help—that’s why we’re here! As an experienced safe cracker in Fairfax, VA, you can trust that we can open your safe and help you reset your combination if you can’t remember it.
The next time you need someone to open your safe, be sure to call our pros at Artie’s Lock And Key. We’ll send someone out to your home or business right away to professionally, quickly and safely unlock your safe without causing any damage.
