Gun safes....are my guns really safe against burglary??

[77blackcj5]

A couple of weeks ago we experienced a break in at my house. Came home to the door kicked in busting the door frame where the dead bolt latches in striker plate. It was obviously a smash and grab situation. Just some Xbox systems, small flat screen tv and laptop taken. I had all my guns in a sentinel 24 gun safe that was purchased from academy. Surprisingly the burglar didn't even attempt the safe or take any of the full ammo cans sitting on top of it. Since then we have had adt security system installed, set up surveillance cameras, and made angle iron braces that are lag bolted into the stud behind the door frame from both sides with long screws to hold dead bolt latch and installed double keyed dead bolt locks. Ive read a lot recently about how easy these gun safes are to pry into. Is it really that easy to do? Will having the adt system allow enough time for a safe to be comprised before the cops show up if it happens again? What's your take on the safes? Should I be ok now or am I just be paranoid? ? Thanks

 

[kwselke]

Nothing is 100% secure. All you can do is slow down a determined well equipped crook. Since they did not attempt to take anything heavy, it sounds like they were not well equipped or determined. If they come back they may have what they need to cart off the heavy goods. Since you have experienced a burglary I do not consider your concerns paranoia. Make it as difficult for them as possible to do it again. A buddy of mine who lives in the country has a sign on his front gate that reads... There is nothing in here worth your life. As you proceed up the road there is a second sign as his house comes into view. It reads... If you can read this sign you are within range. Make sure the safe is bolted to the floor.

 

[walkin jack]

In a word NO. I saw a video of a guy, buy himself, open an top of the line gun safe in 35 minutes with just a few basic hand tools. It all depends on how badly they want to get in. About all you can be sure of is that you can make them work harder.

I've tried to find that video on Youtube. I'm not sure after all this time exactly where I saw it but I was impressed. If someone can find it I'm sure we'd all enjoy seeing it. Thanks

 

[the ringo kid]

Luckily the future inmate seemed to have been deterred by the safe.

 

[77blackcj5]

The safe is anchored into a concrete floor. I suspect a person would only have a few minutes at most before cops arrived from the adt security call.

 

[Fishslayer]

Apparently they were safer than they would have been setting about in the open. Glad you didn't lose 'em.

Won't matter to a real pro what you have short of a bank vault.

OTOH now they know you have a safe...

 

[the ringo kid]

The safe is anchored into a concrete floor. I suspect a person would only have a few minutes at most before cops arrived from the adt security call.

Which is likely why the thieving pig, didnt try to remove it--or--likely on foot no vehicle. Likely a kid too, judging from what it stole from you.

 

[Comrad]

Hide it as best as you can, most of these kick in the door guys want to get in and out fast. If they don't see the safe they won't be prying it open. In the basement or garage, a sheet of plywood and some random lumber leaning against it look like just a pile of wood. Hang some clothes on it, whatever to make it look like it's not a gun safe. If you want to go nuts a fake sheetrock wall is not too difficult to fabricate.

 

[erics]

Sounds like typical younger druggies only take what is easy to grab, carry and fence. No tools with them, crime of opportunity. Had a co-worker at one time have a break in while he was at work, computer, microwave, tv and stereo. Thieves came back a month later and stole all the new replacements.

 

[StakeOut]

The thief probably a teen that lives just a short distance away and may even be known or a familiar face.

Larceny/Burglary are crimes of opportunity.

 

[rwsmith]

With a drill, sawzall and a prybar ....

I could get into my cheapie safe in a few minutes. A safe costing thousands of dollars would give more trouble. Somebody here wrote that the perps stole a septic tank truck, ran into the house, tied the safe to the boom and then drove off with it.

Now the REASON I bought my safe was that it kept my son and his many 'friends' away from my guns.

 

[dave b]

At my last house, I had a unmonitored alarm with a loud siren on the roof. It had several sensors in the house, but the best one was on the unlocked screen doors. I had the neighbors call me a couple of times at work to tell me a car was squealing out of the drive and the alarm was going. No entry.

 

[keith44spl]

For a burglar to peel a safe door.....It really needs to be laid on it's
back, the corner of the door crimped with a sledge hammer and the
peel started with a wrecking bar or crowbar, ect......


Most burglers are not 'safe men' and don't really know how to
punch a safe by locating and drill the locking dog screw out.


Most sporting good store safes are pretty easy to pry and or peel open.


The more hardened bolts and pins etc... the longer it takes to open.


Some pros use a burning bar, but snatch and grab crooks don't have the
know how and the time to crack most home safes.


Sometimes it don't really matter much, try not to leave any tools or cuttin' torches handy.




.

 

[StakeOut]

A safe costing thousands of dollars would give more trouble. Somebody here wrote that the perps stole a septic tank truck, ran into the house, tied the safe to the boom and then drove off with it.

The more people that know about your safe and it's location the odds increase that someone will try to steal it or it's contents.

The quoted post suggests one of the thieves was at one time in the house or heard about the safe and it's contents from a person with knowledge of it.

Kids at school and wives at the beauty shop ....

 

[kraynky]

Probably 20 years ago and friend of mine's house was broken into. At the time he had most of his guns in a cheapo metal "gun locker". It was in the basement, right next to his tool bench. Yeah, you guessed it, they used his own tools to bust open the cabinet and stole his guns.

The only one they didn't get was in his bedroom on the floor under a pile of dirty clothes (his wife at the time was a terrible house keeper, and so was he for that matter). Anyway, it turns out that it was some boys that went to school with his daughter. She of course flapped her gums about "Dad's guns and his hunting hobby), they skipped school while he was working and did their deed. A real "safe" would have protected them, just like the OP's story.

A fellow I work with was also broken into about 3 years ago (yep, same situation, kids) except he has a real safe. No guns were taken, just jewelry and electronics. But a determined pro can grab a grinder from my tool collection and cut the sides of my safes open in a matter in minutes.

I'm thinking maybe I should go with an alarm system myself, now that I think about it. It would at the very least make them nervous and cut down on their "free time" to cut a safe open.

I do think that safes keep our guns "safer", gun cabinets, not so much.

 

[rburg]

The safe is anchored into a concrete floor. I suspect a person would only have a few minutes at most before cops arrived from the adt security call.

Good luck getting ADT to make that call as fast as you imagine. The first thing is for the alarm to trip. Then usually the monitoring service guy makes a call to your house. It rings a half dozen times to see if you're at home and know the secret password. Then they figure its a genuine alarm so the make a call to your local dispatch. Then the operator answers and they have a nice little chat and decide its an alarm for the police. So dispatch puts the call out. The poor beat cop takes the call and then prioritizes it. If you're lucky and he's not right in the middle of lunch, he responds. Then depending on how far he is away, he drives there. Probably not red lights and siren because he gets a dozen of them every week and the vast majority are false alarms. I have no idea how prompt your locals are, but it could vary from minutes to a half hour. In some places one rural cop has 50 miles to patrol. Luck of the draw where he is. Don't blame him.

I've seen the videos, and it looks easy for some big guys in good physical shape. They seem pretty skilled and have tools to do what they want. They also have plenty of room to swing the tools.

Gun safes are really sheet metal boxes. Not nearly as secure as 6" poured concrete. And a rule of thumb is the skilled don't break in through the door. Its usually the place the dummies try, but its also the most secure. I liked the idea of a sprinkler head over the safe itself. Nice cold water if there's a fire, or if the dummies knock it off swinging the maul, it will keep them cool if they work up a sweat. If you build a simple stud wall around it, they'll have a fun time trying to pry it loose.

Loud outside sounders will attract near neighbors if there are any, and if you haven't had a bunch of annoying false alarms. If you've got a visible strobe (mine's blue, but red works too). That tells anyone interested where the loud noise is coming from. Also helps the responding officer to find the house.

 

[kenv1950]

Most druggies aren't prepared with tools to break into a safe. They just grab and run.
The ones that are prepared know what you have ! ?????

 

[mod29]

I really doubt smash & grab tweakers are going to get in your safe.
They're in a hurry and will grab whatever they can, as long as they can do it quickly.

I have always believed the real danger is when the bad guys already know you have a safe and come ready for it.

Think about it. Even banks with serious commercial-grade vaults sometimes become victims. How? The bad guy puts a gun to their head and have them open the vault.

Best advice I have is make sure your safe isn't easily seen by people you don't know well. Repair contractors in your house, for example.

OP: There are many different brands of gun safes, and some are going to be much more difficult to pry open or otherwise compromise.

How much you spent on it will be a possible indicator of the quality and security, as will the gauge of the steel used in the construction.

 

[rosefarm]

Anyone who has taken an advanced Chemistry course can be in your safe in less than 30 seconds. LOUD alarm and a vigilant dog are your best protection.

 

[Fishinfool]

I aint going to attach a link to the advertisement, cause I am unsure about the legality.... But there is this neat little spring loaded device that holds a bulk can of pepper spray, and can be attached to a door, for example. Open the door without first disarming the hidden trip, and it will flood a room with OC very quickly. My reloading / safe room has one, and it works...

Larry