In Home Security, Safety

We all have valuables that we want to keep under lock and key, but what’s the best way to keep everything safe? As the name implies, a home safe is a reliable option for keeping certain things safe in your home. Reliability depends partly on the type of safe and partly where you place it.

A Safe Combination

Home safes are secured with a lock that is opened by key, electronic keypad, combination dial or biometrics, like a fingerprint. While no safe is foolproof, keyed safes are the easiest to break into because they can be picked. Electronic keypads and combination locks are more resistant to picking, but the number sequence chosen needs to be strong. Avoid obvious combinations, such as birthdays and anniversaries. Biometric safes are high end but offer the most degree of safety.

A Safe Location

The location of the safe is another factor of reliability. Even if a safe isn’t broken into while it’s in the home, a stolen safe provides little security. Wall safes can be hidden and secured within a wall behind framed artwork. Newer houses have thinner walls, making it difficult to position a safe inside a wall. In this case, a floor safe may be the answer. Floor safes that are bigger and heavier can be bolted to the foundation to deter theft.

The Home Safe vs. a Safety Deposit Box

A safety deposit box is a good choice for some items, but it has some drawbacks:

• It can only be accessed during the bank’s business hours.

• It requires a key.

• Access may be denied in times of emergency, such as death of the owner.

Alternatively, a home safe:

• Is accessible at any hour of the day or night.

• Is conveniently located in your own home.

• Has no restrictions on accessibility in times of emergency.

Items to keep in a home safe include valuables and documents that are difficult or time-consuming to replace.

• Original birth certificates, Social Security cards and passports

• Important legal documents, such as insurance policies, wills, retirement plans and investment documents

• Spare keys to vehicles, properties, and safety deposit boxes

• Extra cash for emergencies

• Jewelry and coins

Protecting the Safe

When purchasing a home safe, always look for the UL listing. This will let you know how long the safe is expected to withstand the extreme temperatures of fire. Some insurance policies require a minimum time for the fireproof rating in order to cover the contents. Make sure to look at the temperature rating for the inside of the safe as well. Documents and paper can withstand a higher temperature, but sensitive digital objects such as CDs, DVDs and portable hard drives are compromised at lower temperatures.

Seacoast Security has been providing Maine and New Hampshire home and business owners with cutting edge home and business security services since 1976 from our offices in Rockport, Freeport/Portland, Hermon/Bangor, Presque Isle, and Portsmouth. Learn more at https://seacoastsecurity.com/

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