A good safe... key, key combination or finger print?

[Otispunkmeyer]

I need to get a new safe as we've now outgrown our little passport safe (and the MiL turned up the other day as she's moving house and no longer wants to look after my wife's "treasure" and so now I have some very very expensive items to keep somewhere).

So I was thinking of something bigger but also a little more robust. I've seen stuff like this:

Example of decent looking safe

But wondered if they're actually any good. The main options seem to be key (can lose it). Key combination (no problem remembering it). Finger print (don't have to remember anything but not sure how secure).

I know ultimately if someone does break in and they want the contents then they'll get them. But a decent "hotel safe" secured to a wall would probably deter most opportunists.

[b14]

No recommendation but a point to note, the vast, vast majority of fingerprint safes are rubbish and deeply insecure. If anything they make things worse as they telegraph that there's something that might be worth stealing and where it is, but then don't really give much protection from someone then getting into it.

[S6PNJ]

I've bought from this company in the past - https://www.safelincs.co.uk/fireproof-safes-and-st... and have a digital number combination lock. Which ever safe you decide to go for, do a quick search on YouTube for 'cracking' or breaking into that safe and see what comes up (lockpickinglawyer is a good channel). A lot of the basic safes can be opened with a sharp thump (admittedly not easy if they are secured to the floor / wall etc) or other simple methods.

EG. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De0D7otNxME

[biggiles]

I'm not sure I'd ever trust a fingerprint safe? Personally I'd prefer a key over a combination.

I doubt many burglars try cracking safes: with a cordless angle grinder, I'd expect most safes will be open in minutes.

(I assume we're not talking about named jewels here!)

PS if you need big safes, gun safes may be of interest, they come in all sizes.

Edited by biggiles on Thursday 27th June 09:03

[s p a c e m a n]

The problem with a safe is that you've put all of your most treasured and expensive items in one location in a removable box (Unless you've got a hidden cellar and the safe weighs 300kg)