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Original poster

Tips for cracking a safe?

45 replies

Kinsters · 06/08/2021 06:40

DH tried with a cheap stethoscope but couldn't hear the clicks. Now he's going to try with a dremel with a disc that can supposedly cut through steel, looks a bit small to me though. Any other bright ideas? Other than hire a locksmith, obviously. We will do that if we have to but it would be nice to be able to do it ourselves.

Not sure what's in the safe.

OP posts:
ISaidDontLickTheBin · 06/08/2021 06:42

No tips off the top of my head but there's a lot of YouTube videos of safe cracking that might help

OutOfTrousers · 06/08/2021 06:44

What type? If it’s one of those small ones then thump it hard above the lock casing…

LubaLuca · 06/08/2021 06:45

How big and sturdy is the safe? Is it a little domestic one, or more like a bank safe?

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Original poster
Kinsters · 06/08/2021 06:48

Yeah we looked at videos etc, they make it seem a lot easier than it actually is! It doesn't look that sturdy but I've no idea really.

Tips for cracking a safe?
OP posts:
Original poster
Kinsters · 06/08/2021 06:49

Ok thumping it it feels sturdier than I expected...

OP posts:
TheChosenTwo · 06/08/2021 07:11

Whose safe is it?!
I can’t get invested in another safe thread unless you can guarantee we find out what’s in it when you open it Hmm

Returnoftheowl · 06/08/2021 07:13

If safecracking was as easy as it looks in the movies everyone would be doing it and no safe would be erm safe. Get a locksmith in.

BarbaraofSeville · 06/08/2021 07:17

Who's safe is it? For all we know, everyone's trying to help someone rob a bank, their employer or granny.

There's a knack to those locks even when you know the combination. We have one at work and it's a running joke as to who can open it, how many attempts it will take and who can't.

I can do it first time when no one's watching, so I have to send them away, which is kind of hopeless considering it's a dying art and most of the new recruits think it's some sort of hilarious antique.

Original poster
Kinsters · 06/08/2021 07:27

No robbing anyone 😂 it's DH's grandparents safe. Most likely empty but we're looking for the house deeds and hoping they're in there. I'll update if/when we get it open. Might try the lock with a paperclip.

OP posts:
LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 06/08/2021 07:34

that's more your lockable filing cabinet is it not?

they are not that sturdy at the back...get a drill and metal snips on it.

Or bring it up here, i have lump hammers, no end of sawing type things, drills and a filthy filthy temper on as i have been awake since half three and I think the dishwasher is fubared for no good reason.

and I am STILL the only person up! crossface

BarbaraofSeville · 06/08/2021 07:42

Are house deeds not all online now? Or does that not apply if they've lived there a long time, which they could well have done.

Original poster
Kinsters · 06/08/2021 07:50

@LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow

that's more your lockable filing cabinet is it not?

they are not that sturdy at the back...get a drill and metal snips on it.

Or bring it up here, i have lump hammers, no end of sawing type things, drills and a filthy filthy temper on as i have been awake since half three and I think the dishwasher is fubared for no good reason.

and I am STILL the only person up! crossface

Problem is it's really heavy and pretty securely wedged into the gap in the wall so it's not easy to pull out as you can't get a good grip. I've been looking at lock picking instructions and it doesn't seem that difficult but I suspect it's like the safe cracking methods DH looked up, they make it sound so easy but it's really not! I'm also wondering if picking that lock would even work as surely there is a reason the combination dial is there. Maybe we need the correct combination plus a key..
OP posts:
Grinch48 · 06/08/2021 07:56

Is it electric as electric safes have key to open it in case the batteries go
Do you know if it’s 4 - 6 or 8 combination clicks
Have you tried obvious stuff like date of births telephone number dates of weddings

Are there any loose keys anywhere or even check the owners set of keys it will probably be small like a little padlock key

Failing that a grinder saw will open it but it will be really noisy and take a while and get eye protection 😂
Start at the back as the metal is thinner

Eve · 06/08/2021 07:56

Contact the manufacturer, they may have a code to open.

( we did this at work with a safe with forgotten code , needed a solicitors letter verifying what it was needed for before code was released)

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 06/08/2021 07:57

have you tried the obvious numbers?

phone numbers, DOBs, old service numbers, coopdivvy?

Capricornandproud · 06/08/2021 07:58

I would:

Buy two cheap D handles from b & q; secure them to the front of the filing cabinet with a bit of no more nails for luck (!) and perhaps two at the bottom. Then try and slowly and gently pull the filing cab forwards. If its full of shite then never mind - an angle grinder and goggles next! Hammer and chisel to the corners or edges or actual lock may work?

Grinch48 · 06/08/2021 07:59

The keyhole is there for exactly reasons like this 😂there will be a spare key somewhere that will override the combination lock
Where that spare key might be is another problem
😂
A locksmith would probably be able to do it they can insert a metal rod that makes a copy of the key or will force it
Is there a brand name on the safe anywhere

BarbaraofSeville · 06/08/2021 07:59

It used to be normal practice to leave a nominal £1 or so outstanding on your mortgage so the lender would store the deeds for free.

Many older people got their mortgage from the local building society as that was how it was done at the time. Banks didn't do mortgages and there wasn't generally a culture of remortgaging every few years. You took out your mortgage for 25 years, paid it off every month and that was it. Which would suggest that the building society in your DHs grandparents area could have them, although it might have been taken over by a bank and/or changed it's name.

But googling says that 99% of deeds are available online at the land registry anyway, which must include people who own their house outright, as far more than 1% of homeowners will be in this position.
If you haven't already, I'd try the Land Registry, then your best guess as who the lender would have been.

But then you probably still want to look in the safe before disposing it, as there could be anything in it. When my DF passed away, DM found all sorts of stuff of his, including quite a lot of valuables that she had no idea were in the house, or that he even possessed.

Capricornandproud · 06/08/2021 08:00

…and did they build in around the bloody thing! Its firmly wedged!

Original poster
Kinsters · 06/08/2021 08:02

Yes, we definitely want into the safe even if the deeds end up not being needed.

DH was all set with his power tools but has now lost interest! I remember a big bunch of keys somewhere but none small enough for this lock if I remember correctly. My MIL would know how to get into it I'm sure but she also passed away a number of years ago.

OP posts:
AdaColeman · 06/08/2021 08:03

Don’t try using an oxyacetylene cutter on it. A friend of mine was killed in the resulting explosion, when he attempted this.

Original poster
Kinsters · 06/08/2021 08:04

@Capricornandproud

…and did they build in around the bloody thing! Its firmly wedged!
Yes, it seems built into the wall. There's space at the bottom but the amount of space at the top is so small that to lever it up enough to slip anything under to make it easier to pull out would be really hard (that's my go to for moving heavy things - usuall use a little jack thing to lift it up then slip a towel mat underneath)
OP posts:
Original poster
Kinsters · 06/08/2021 08:06

@AdaColeman

Don’t try using an oxyacetylene cutter on it. A friend of mine was killed in the resulting explosion, when he attempted this.
Oh that's awful. Thank you for the warning.
OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 06/08/2021 08:23

Could you try to drill a small hole near the top of the drawer (about 1/2 inch diameter) and feed in one of those little flexible cameras (about £10 on Amazon) and see it there is anything in there. If it is empty, that's that. If it is full of money, documents etc. buy a hole cutter.

This could all take a long time...

WeAreTheHeroes · 06/08/2021 08:33

That looks like a fire safe with an additional combination lock. What keys have you got? Only if the property you are after the deeds for is unregistered would you need the old paperwork.

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