Not Bolting Down a Safe

[cvigue]

No thief who's serious about getting into your safe is going to come looking like some cartoon from 1957 with a 6' pry bar. He's going to have a grinder and a few cut off wheels and he's gonna go in thru the side in 20 minutes or less.

Those people making prybar videos are trying to sell safes.

[CPRAFAN]

Weight is your friend . . .

As a victim of an old burglary, my opinion is that the first thing the burglars go for is the safe. So fill a cheap safe with bricks - if you want to have fun, spray paint the bricks gold and superglue the door shut as well as locking it. Hide your valuable stuff in a subfloor safe or wall safe, hidden from view and leave the safe filled with bricks and locked shut in plain view. Your decoy safe will save you from losing your valuable stuff, like I did, because the thieves will spend their time and effort on the decoy safe. FYI

These isn't any legal requirement to bolt the safe to the floor. Weight is your friend: boxes of bullets, lead weights, etc. will slow down a burglar.

[The Gleam]

No thief who's serious about getting into your safe is going to come looking like some cartoon from 1957 with a 6' pry bar. He's going to have a grinder and a few cut off wheels and he's gonna go in thru the side in 20 minutes or less.

Those people making prybar videos are trying to sell safes.

Agree. The pry-bar thing is still done as there are many reports of safes having been found busted open in that manner. But that's because those that did it were either limited in mind or tools.

Many grinders can even be had now as cordless; with a thin cutting-wheel, it's about as difficult as using an ink-marker to draw a line. I think 20 minutes is dubious; more like 2 minutes.

[Bansh88]

I'm glad to know many here think dudes showing up with grinders, saws and sledge hammers will be stopped by drywall, 2x4s and some bolts.

[The Gleam]

I'm glad to know many here think dudes showing up with grinders, saws and sledge hammers will be stopped by drywall, 2x4s and some bolts.

Nobody is saying that.

What everyone knows is that the meth-head punk or bored high-school kid on his way home seeing easy opportunity will use whatever is at his disposal, and that is the most likely person breaking into your home/apt in the first place. The topple and bang/pry the crap out of it is their most likely tactic as they aren't apt to have formal tools (even though most cordless or common wheel grinders run all of about $29.00 to $59.00 at most any hardware store).

In that regard, most everyone here would be better off reinforcing their windows and doors a whole lot better, as a much more effective and lower cost preventative to protect that easy-to-get-into safe in the first place.

I've seen people get a big Cannon safe (i.e., sheet-metal lock box with drywall padding) yet have wide-open rear sliding doors on their home with no resistance to prying the weak door frame without even breaking the glass (no noise) and the amateur burglar strolling in - as if invited.

[zapatito92]

a little mud, a little sanding, and a little paint have helped me get my full security deposit back

[AceGirlsHusband]

Another drawback of not bolting down your heavy gun safe is earthquake. No one wants their safe walking the floor and then falling on their pets.

[Montu]

Agree. Nothing like a renter vacating and leaving screw and nail holes all over the place, contrary to their lease agreement.

I don't rent I buy..specifically so i can do whatever the hell I want to do.

However, if a renter repairs holes before leaving...what's the big deal?

If the holes are somewhere that affects absolutely nothing other than cosmetics, what's wrong with the renter making it look nice again by re carpeting / filling holes?

[nedro]

I don't rent I buy..specifically so i can do whatever the hell I want to do.

However, if a renter repairs holes before leaving...what's the big deal?

If the holes are somewhere that affects absolutely nothing other than cosmetics, what's wrong with the renter making it look nice again by re carpeting / filling holes?

I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, THAT'S FUNNY RIGHT THERE!

Obviously, you don't rent to people.

[kmas]

When a lease agreement clearly states "no holes to be drilled anywhere", how does a person secure a safe? To be legal, is it a requirement that a safe be bolted down? Thanks in advance.

Legally bolting down is not required.

As for your lease, if you can repair the hole before you leave your rental, you are okay.

[nedro]

Legally bolting down is not required.

As for your lease, if you can repair the hole before you leave your rental, you are okay.

Nothing but comediennes today. You guys got me rolling on the ground with your jokes!

[qdx450]

a friend of mine rented his house to a B.P. agent, lease agreement stated no drilling in post tension foundation. the dumb-*** drilled holes for his safe and the whole foundation cracked and shifted. the guy gets $2000. dollars garnished from his check a month to pay for a house he doesnt live in. be safe ask the landlord.

[Montu]

I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, THAT'S FUNNY RIGHT THERE!

Obviously, you don't rent to people.

Nope I don't rent to anyone currently guess you shouldn't be either if your so worried about these things.

I get that damage can be done, I had to be careful on my current home with the post tension slab.

[nedro]

Nope I don't rent to anyone currently guess you shouldn't be either if your so worried about these things.

I get that damage can be done, I had to be careful on my current home with the post tension slab.

This is proof that people with nothing will never, "Get it."
Oh here comes the list of everything this guy has...

[Montu]

This is proof that people with nothing will never, "Get it."
Oh here comes the list of everything this guy has...

Okay yeah sure I've got nothing.

No need to get butt hurt, I really do understand why you as a landlord would not want this, but I also understand real life and what does happen anyway.

If OP does decide to do it anyway he should do it carefully and expect to loose his deposit and pay for any serious damage if it does happen.

There is a reason why I sold my home in N. CA instead of renting it...I didn't want/need to be a landlord...screw that mess.

I do wish you the best luck with whatever properties you have..sounds like you have total control over your renters


OP: I want to add one more option here to avoid bolting into the floor...and that would be pouring a heavy concrete slab (pour cement into a wooden box) then putting you safe on top and bolting to that. You wouldn't be making any holes in the house and it would be almost as effective..of course removing this would be a pain afterward.

Here's a sticky on something similar: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=731447