Basics of Property Management: Screening Potential Tenants

Bought A Used, Locked Safe? Here's Why You Need To Call A Commercial Locksmith

29 January 2015

Jesse Obrien

Sometimes at an auction, garage sale or flea market, you will find a locked and unopened old safe for sale. What's inside these safes? Nobody knows! These safes can be a source of fun if you buy them, because the tantalizing hope that there could be a treasure within is so exciting! However, most of the time these safes do not come with a key or combination, and before you place a bid or buy the used safe, it's crucial to know whether or not you can hire someone to open the safe. Commercial locksmiths are professionally trained in the art of opening, changing and securing locks, and while not all locksmiths can open a safe, most can at least refer you to someone who can. Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you find a locked safe up for sale.

Dial Safes

Dial locked safes are typically harder to "break into" than key safes, because it is far easier to either pick a lock or simply remove the entire locking system. The methods of opening a dial safe include:

• Drilling
• Cycling through number combinations
• Feeling for clicks that indicate the combination
• Cutting through the metal

In some cases, such as cutting through the metal, the safe itself will be ruined after it is opened. If you want your dial safe to be in usable condition after it is "cracked," you will have to rely on trying to find the combination.

Key Safes

Most locksmiths will attempt to pick a lock on an old key safe, and they typically have fairly good luck. Most lock picking is done with a series of picks that are inserted into the lock. The correct size of pick will allow the locksmith to align the tumblers and open the lock.

However, in some cases, the locksmith may simply pry off the lock or even pry open the door. Again, it may depend on whether you want the safe undamaged, or if you are really, really determined to open that safe regardless of the damage.

Buying a used and locked safe can be exciting, but it can also be costly to get the safe opened. Then, too, the safe itself may often be damaged in the lock picking, and can't be used again afterward. Make sure you have the number of a locksmith like Irvine Lock & Key to help you determine all of the gains and risks in opening such a safe.

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