Major Safe Company Floor Safe? The 127 Detailed Answer

A new safe can cost between 50 and several thousand euros. In good condition, a used high-end device will usually retain its value. Antique safes have a high collector’s value and rare models are worth many times their original retail price. Generally today, the more you’ve spent, the more it’s worth in percentage terms. There are dozens of safe dealers online that have used safes for sale. Call them for quotes and check out eBay auctions to get a realistic estimate of your safe.

Help, how do I open my digital vault when the batteries are dead?

That’s a question I get asked a lot!

So here is my definitive guide on how to get into your electronic digital safe when the batteries are dead.

Step 1. Don’t Panic

You can get back into your vault and as long as you follow the steps below, your vault will be undamaged and ready to use again in no time.

Step 2. Check if the batteries are dead and it is not some other problem

With most high-quality electronic safes, the first sign that the safe’s batteries are low is usually a prolonged series of beeps when you enter your code, or a warning on the display panel if it has one. If you get a low battery warning and the safe won’t open, that’s probably the problem.

Cheaper electronic safes may not warn you when the battery is getting low, and the first thing you might know is if the safe won’t open. The batteries can be expected to last up to 2 years depending on usage. So if your battery has been in use for a long time, a dead battery is probably the reason. Batteries left untouched for too long can corrode, which can lead to a much more expensive problem.

Step 3. Find out what kind of digital safe you have

Obviously there are hundreds of models of digital safes, but I’ve broken them down into three categories based on the type of electronic lock the safe has.

Digital lock with override key

If you bought your safe online or from a major retail chain at a great price, it is probably this type of electronic safe with a lock similar to the one pictured above. Your safe comes with a separate key that you can use to open the safe if the electronic lock fails or the batteries run out. Override keys should not be kept in the vault.

Digital lock with batteries behind the keyboard

These high-end locks have the batteries hidden in the keypads, with access to the battery even when the safe is locked (often from below, or the keypad is tilted forward to reveal the batteries). If a safe with this type of lock is running low on battery, you will receive a warning. This might beep when you enter your code or, if you have a display panel, it might show a low battery warning similar to what you would see on a cell phone.

Digital lock with emergency power connection

Locks like the one in the picture above have a connection point for external emergency batteries on the keyboard. The actual battery compartment is inside the safe on the back of the door and cannot be accessed from the outside when the safe is locked.

Step 4. Accessing the batteries in your digital safe

Each vault type requires a different method for replacing dead batteries:

Digital Lock with Override Key – You must use the override key to open the safe. The battery pack is located in the door and the batteries can only be replaced when the safe is open. To access the override lock, there is usually a removable panel on the side of the keyboard. Undoing this will expose the lock for the key to be inserted. If you lost the override key, you will not be able to open the vault. However, due to the less secure nature of these types of key locks, a locksmith can open them for you for a fee.

– You must use the override key to open the safe. The battery pack is located in the door and the batteries can only be replaced when the safe is open. To access the override lock, there is usually a removable panel on the side of the keyboard. Undoing this will expose the lock for the key to be inserted. If you lost the override key, you will not be able to open the vault. However, due to the less secure nature of these types of key locks, a locksmith can open them for you for a fee. Digital lock with batteries behind the keyboard – There is usually an obvious latch somewhere on the keyboard (often at the bottom) that releases the battery case and allows you to see the batteries as in the image below

– There is usually an obvious latch somewhere on the keyboard (often at the bottom) that will uncover the battery compartment and allow you to swap out the batteries as shown in the image below Battery power and the batteries are in the vault. If your batteries are dead you will need to connect a 9v battery (like the ones you get in smoke detectors) to the connection points on the front of the safe, this should provide the power you need to enter your code on the keypad to enter

You have to hold the battery on the connection points while entering your code and opening the door.

Once inside the vault, you can access and replace the dead batteries.

Step 5. When all else fails, turn to the experts

If your digital safe is one of the more secure/rugged choices, or none of the above worked, then it’s probably time to talk to the pros.

With our experienced engineers and nationwide service, we can open your safe for you, regardless of class, denomination or safe brand.

Safes can get stuck for a variety of reasons, not just the batteries. Whatever the issue preventing you from opening your safe, our technicians will quickly diagnose the problem and determine opening options.

If you need help opening your safe, contact us now

Things NOT to do if your safe won’t open

Kick it: While this will make you feel better, it doesn’t help and can further damage the secure locking mechanism. Spray things in the lock: We’ve sprayed all sorts of weird and wonderful things in locks over the years, and none of it helps. Force the lock: Any attempt to force open the safe can result in damage. Safes are designed not to be forced open, so any attempt you make is futile. Drill the lock: If you don’t know what you’re doing, the only guaranteed result of drilling your safe’s lock is that you will never be able to use that lock again.

We can help you open your safe in the most effective and gentle way. Please contact us to arrange a technician to come to you as soon as possible.

How do locksmiths open safes?

There are several situations in which an owner can be locked out of a vault.

In this article I am talking about good and high quality safes that need to be professionally opened in order for the safe to be reused in mint condition.

With cheap, large store safes, almost anyone with tin cutters and in some cases just a magnet (item Sentry Safe Security Fail) can gain access in a short amount of time.

But for high-quality safes, you should hire a professional. After hiring a knowledgeable locksmith to open safes, you can preserve your investment and use the safe for many years to come.

Locksmiths can open safes if the safe combination stops working, the combination has been lost, the secure dial/keypad has failed, or the connection in the door has broken. Locksmiths use spare parts, dial manipulation, or drilling points to gain access to a vault.

This is one of the most advanced locksmith skills and many locksmiths never learn it. It takes time, and mastery comes only through years of experience.

How locksmiths open safes when the combination no longer works

The electronic combination of safe no longer works

This is where the safe locksmith needs to diagnose the cause of the problem. There can be several reasons why the combination no longer works.

The batteries are weak. Batteries often have enough energy to light up and hear when you press a key on the keyboard. But they lack the power to pull the magnet so the safe can be opened. You can start replacing the batteries before calling a locksmith. Something on the keyboard went wrong. Perhaps one of the numbers no longer registers. With many new electronic safe locks, the faceplate can be replaced to solve this problem. Your local locksmith will know what part you need. If the electronic lock has otherwise failed, the safe will need to be drilled (see How locksmiths drill safes below).

Safe’s dialing combination no longer works

Secure dial manipulation

Combination locks can deteriorate over time. Lubrication wears away, dust and dirt are introduced, and the numbers used to open the safe drift away from their centers on the dial.

This prevents the lock body gates from aligning and prevents the safe from opening.

For this reason, you should have your combination lock serviced by a local locksmith every few years to keep it in good working order.

When presented with a dialing safe, the safecracker often makes attempts to open the safe using this information to dial the combination.

So if the combination should be 10 – 20 – 30, you can try values ​​close to those values ​​first and then gradually increase them to larger offsets

When it works, it’s a lot quicker than drilling a safe, although not sure it will work as the problem may not drift at all.

If you find yourself in this situation, you can try it yourself without risking further damage to the safe. See our article What to try when a safe combination stops working for details on the technique.

However, if you do get access, have your vault serviced (link) so the problem doesn’t come back any time soon.

How locksmiths open safes when the lock has failed or there is no combination

We wrote a very detailed article on how locksmiths open locked safes without a combination.

At a high level, locksmiths will usually, but not always, drill through the safe when the combination is lost, the lock has failed completely, or the internal door linkage has malfunctioned.

If the combination is lost, the locksmith will try a few other things before drilling. See our article I’ve lost my safe combination – how do I get in? for details.

There are some situations where a vault company will have an override or reset function for an electronic lock. Getting the vault company to provide the information usually requires the use of a locksmith to verify that you are the owner of the vault. Locksmiths will try to get an electronic lock or dial combination override code before drilling.

Apart from these few cases, the locksmith drills open the safe. This also applies to combination locks where manipulation has failed.

Locksmiths with the appropriate certifications and training can usually obtain specific drill points for a specific safe.

Drill points are where the safe technician can gain access to the safe’s innards when drilling the safe through a very small hole, about 1/4 inch. These locations are closely guarded secrets and are not provided without locksmith verification.

From this drilling point, the technician can use an illuminated scope or a video camera scope to see the mechanics of the lock and bypass it to open the door. The photo at the top of this page shows one of our Secure Locksmiths using a scope to view and thus manipulate the dials.

The drill bit can then be filled with a steel rod and cut flush. The lock body or dial will be replaced and the safe can once again be used as intended to protect your valuables.

If drill points cannot be found, the vault locksmith can still access the vault, but it will take longer. The locksmith will need to use his knowledge and drill the safe (possibly multiple times) to try and find a spot to use the scope to see the mechanics so the safe can be opened.

Because of the expertise and training required, and often requiring licensing or membership as a handyman, you can expect to pay more for a secure locksmith compared to other locksmith services.

As a result, we often have people locked out of low-end safes who feel that the cost of opening the safe is more than the safe is worth.

This is especially true for large garbage safes, which are made of plastic walls instead of metal. They are not built to be repaired.

In these cases, a locksmith can simply use brute force to gain access at a much lower cost to you. After that you can buy another low price point safe or a possible upgrade to a safe that is much harder to get to.

As service manager, I occasionally took over the late shift. I remember getting a call one night from a manager who was trying to close for the night and frantically said, “My safe won’t open; Help!” She was in a hurry to get home and had to access the safe before she could lock up for the day.

One of the most common troubleshooting calls we receive is:

“My safe won’t open. What can I do?”

Here are five common reasons why your safe won’t open, and what steps to try before calling a technician.

Five possible reasons why your safe won’t open

Dead batteries

Fingers crossed, the reason your safe won’t open is as simple as dead batteries.

Before trying anything, swap out the batteries for branded batteries. Branded batteries lose power much faster than their branded counterparts.

It’s important that you try this step first, even if your keyboard beeps and lights up as usual. The batteries may be enough to operate the keypad but not enough to fully retract the boltwork.

Jammed boltwork

Sometimes the boltwork can bind for a variety of reasons. If you hear the motor trying to pull the boltwork back but the safe won’t open, a jam could be the cause.

It’s time to let go of your inner frustrations; You can kick the safe with the mule. Turn your back on the safe and give the door a few hard kicks. Be careful not to kick the keyboard or handle. This will help loosen the boltwork.

Next, pull the handle in the opposite direction than you normally do and enter the code. This will relieve some of the extra pressure on the bolt and the handle should move more freely.

Lockdown mode or time delay

Many safes go into penalty lock mode if too many incorrect codes are entered. Depending on the type of keypad, it usually emits a rapid series of beeps. In this case, wait 10 to 20 minutes and try again.

Your vault may also have a time delay. If this is the case, you must wait the specified time delay (usually 10 minutes) and re-enter your code.

Disabled code

Another possible reason why your safe won’t open is that your code has been deactivated. Have someone else try their code to see if theirs works.

Disconnected and/or damaged wiring

As with any electronic device, wiring can become disconnected and/or damaged. Remove the keypad and check the cables to see if they are loose, kinked, or cut.

If everything is intact, unplug the cable from the keyboard and remove the batteries. Wait at least 20 seconds, then reinsert the batteries and reconnect the wiring.

If the wiring is damaged or cut, you must call a technician. Be sure to let them know what type of keyboard you have installed so they can bring one when they come.

If you’ve tried all of these steps and your safe still won’t open, it’s time to call a technician. If you have any questions, let us know. We’re happy to help!

Small electronic safes are about as commonplace in hotel rooms these days as coffeemakers and hair dryers. You can usually find them hidden in a closet, with instructions on how to set a custom passcode on the keyboard so no one else can access the stash of valuables you plan to secure there. However, it turns out that some hotel safes are ridiculously easy for any old passer-by to crack by exploiting a shockingly simple vulnerability.

In a recent video (above), YouTube user LockPickingLawyer films himself setting a custom passcode to lock a Saflok-brand electronic safe in his hotel room, and then confirms it’s locked and secure by he’s trying to enter a wrong code. Then, while it’s still locked, he goes over how easy it is to break in. First, he gets into the so-called “superuser mode” by tapping the “Lock” button twice in a row, then entering the code “999999” and voila, the vault opens. As simple as that.

So why and how is it so easy to crack a supposedly secure vault? Apparently, this “999999” code is actually the standard factory code set by the manufacturer Saflok, and the hotel simply neglected to reset the admin password (which they are supposed to do). By default, the safes can be opened with an administrator password in case a guest forgets the password they set, but a hotel should have changed it from the default.

It’s possible that many other hotels fail to do this, too, and with just six nines, a whole range of Saflok safes worldwide could be cracked. So before the next time you lock up your precious loot while traveling, go through the steps above to make sure the electronic locker in your room is impregnable.

If you’ve ever believed that only movies like Kingsman have secret, hard-to-break-in, or inaccessible locations, or that Jason Bourne’s marksmanship skills outside of the virtual screen can’t be matched, you couldn’t be more wrong.

When it comes to government data, religious texts, historical evidence, billions of dollars in gold and diamonds, or even seeds, humans have created powerful security systems designed so intricately that they will dwarf superheroes.

Here is a list of some of the most difficult places in the world to break into even in your dreams.

1. Fort Knox – Kentucky, United States

It’s guarded by a team of heavily armed guards, electric fences, a 22-ton vault door, and a password that no one fully knows.

What it guards: Home to the US Bullion Depository, Fort Knox not only stores thousands of tons of gold, but is said to house important historical documents like the Magna Carta.

If you plan to break into Fort Knox like James Bond in Goldfinger, you’ll need to get past four fences, two of which are electrified, and then sneak past a team of armed guards. After avoiding any video cameras on your way, you must blast through the four-foot-thick granite walls held together by 750 tons of steel. After all this, you must work your way through the maze of locked doors until you find a vault door weighing 22 tons. For the combination to the vault, all you have to do is find all of the Fort Knox employees, because everyone knows a small part of the combination – nobody knows the whole thing. If you live through all of this, you’re the world’s new superhero.

2. Svalbard Global Seed Vault – Svalbard, Norway

It can survive earthquakes and a nuclear holocaust and is one of the most difficult to breach.

What it protects: Designed to store a wide assortment of seeds to preserve plant diversity, it houses over 500,000 plant species from around the world. If the end of the world takes hold of us, we will be able to revive these plant species.

Located 620 miles from the North Pole and separated by hundreds of miles of ocean, it is deep enough to withstand a nuclear holocaust and avoid major earthquakes. It is 430 feet above sea level so it is sheltered from possible sea level rise. The vaults, resting behind four heavy steel doors, are one of the most difficult vaults in the world to breach.

3. The Iranian Gold Reserves – location unknown

No one knows where it is – making it completely impossible for anyone to break in.

What it’s guarding: Iran has enough gold to prevent a freeze.

What makes the vault of Iran’s gold reserves impenetrable is that no one can say for sure where it is. What better security than not knowing the location of the reserves unless you stumble upon it with some (gigantic) luck.

4. Cheyenne Mountain – Colorado, United States

Buried 2000 feet deep in the mountains, it is sealed with two 25-ton gates capable of withstanding a 30-megaton blast.

What it Guards: Cheyenne was the most secure building in the world and housed the US Missile Warning Center and NORAD during the Cold War. It is now being maintained by an emergency crew if it is ever needed again.

They say “Fat Man” – the bomb dropped on Nagasaki would have to detonate 1429 times to crack open the entrance to Cheyenne Mountain. They are sealed with two 25-ton doors capable of withstanding a 30-megaton blast and are buried 2000 feet deep in the mountains, deep enough that air has to be pumped in. It is also some of the cleanest air to breathe.

Cheyenne was the most secure building in the world and housed the US Missile Warning Center and NORAD during the Cold War. It is now being maintained by an emergency crew if it is ever needed again.

5. Federal Reserve Bank of New York – United States

The pallets are moved here by robots. It is guarded by the best snipers.

What it guards: It stores more bullion than the famous Fort Knox. It is so secure that even foreign governments use it to store their gold.

This bank prefers robots to humans. For security reasons, men are not allowed in the vault. The pallets are moved by a team of robots. If you’ve ever wondered what Deadshot would look like in real life, you must attempt to break into the Fed Reserve Bank of New York. The bank is monitored by deadshot-level snipers.

6. Iron Mountain Vault – New York, USA

Located 200 feet underground in a mine, it’s heavily guarded and has a really thorough security check.

What it guards: Along with the charred remains of Flight 93, the original photo of Einstein with his tongue out, and Edison’s patent for the light bulb, you’ll find thousands of historic masters, photo negatives, and original rolls of film here. Iron Mountain is also home to Room 48, a data center that supports some of America’s largest corporations.

Located 200 feet underground in an old limestone mine, it’s guarded by two waves of armed guards before you even make it to the front door. It houses 1.7 million square feet of super secure vaults. Those allowed in are inspected so thoroughly that the process itself calls it one of the hardest places to crack.

7. Bank of England Gold Vault – London, England

Bombproof, with a very sophisticated security system, it includes voice recognition and a 3ft multi-key system.

What it guards: More than 4,600 tons of gold are stored in this gold vault.

The walls are bombproof and the security system is extremely clever. It includes sophisticated voice recognition, a 3-foot multi-key system, and other security measures and vault information that aren’t even revealed. What can be the solution to a half-uncovered problem? none, right?

8. The Secret Vaults of the Mormon Church – Wasatch Range of Utah, U.S.A

According to rumors, recordings are protected by temperature control, motion and heat sensors. It can withstand a nuclear explosion.

What it guards: These secret vaults contain genealogical and historical records.

Built 600 feet into the side of a giant rock and engineered to withstand a nuclear blast, not only are they closely guarded, but rumor has it the records are protected by temperature control and motion and thermal sensors. It features bank-proof steel doors that are engineered to seal tighter in the event of an impact. There are some administrative offices within the complex, but it is not open to the public or church members.

9. Train Station – Kista, Sweden

Data is guarded by a heavy steel door and servers can run for weeks without power.

What it guards: Station protects the servers for WikiLeaks. Julian Assange’s most valuable computers are hidden in this data bunker. And as long as the train station remains, Wikileaks will live.

The vault lies more than 100 feet below the streets of Stockholm and is guarded by a 1.5 foot high steel door. The servers of this old nuclear bunker are powered by backup generators that can run for weeks if the power goes out. In case you were wondering about the level of security, the data protected in it is so secure that even the American government couldn’t get in.

10. KFC Secret Ingredients Recipe Vault, Kentucky, USA

It is kept in the Kentucky Safe, which is guarded by motion detectors and cameras. Even the President of KFC does not have access to it.

What it guards: What could a fast-food empire love better than its secret recipe? (To attempt!)

The original recipe with eleven secret herbs and spices is written in pencil on a piece of yellow paper and can be found in the Kentucky Safe. The safe, surrounded by thick concrete slabs, lies in a state-of-the-art vault surrounded by motion detectors, cameras and guards, and is connected to an emergency generator. Even the president of KFC can’t get his hands on the recipe.

So which one are you planning to break into?

As you saw in our last two Mythbusters, movies are wrong – WAY. We’ve already debunked the idea that all you need to pick a lock is a bobby pin and good MacGyver hair; and we’ve also addressed the fact that kicking in a door isn’t necessarily your way of breaking into a room. However, today we are touching the cracking of a safe with your ears.

We’ve all seen it in cartoons and movies – a villain has to get into a safe, so what does he do? He just puts his ear to the safe and listens. The safe magically opens within minutes and the jewel thief gets away with it (well, until Batman or another crime fighter shows up and thwarts their plan). This time movies got at least part of it right. But hold on! Just because it can be done doesn’t mean it has to be! Plus, as usual, Hollywood makes it all look way too easy. It’s true that listening for the specific clicks and pops in the combination lock will help open the safe, but it also requires the ability to identify the vibrations inside to actually pick the safe. Listening alone will not get the job done.

First, let’s take a look at what’s really in a combination lock. This video here gives a really clear picture of how the components work in a lock to pick it.

Believe it or not, there is a scientific approach to cracking a safe, and it was actually first brought to light by Harry C. Miller. You can read more about Mr. Miller’s efforts here. Needless to say, this is not a quick job. This takes time and is actually quite exhausting.

But wait, there’s more! If you fancy trying your hand at lock manipulation, we’ve found this nifty little video that shows you how it can be done.

(Let it be known here and forever: LockNet does NOT advocate the criminal life! This is just handy to know if you ever need to help yourself at home!) Check out this video, using no other than one in the world funniest liquids, beer (!) to help you crack the combination lock!