Over the years as one who sells security and “piece-of-mind” for a living, I have heard more than a couple dozen times the phrase: “locks are only for honest people, if they want to really get in you cannot stop them.”

Another locksmith said something similar: “Given the correct tools, time and knowledge, there is nothing that cannot be broken into.” Time is the key part of any break-in. Enough time is needed to execute the crime and escape without detection.

I have been in many homes after a burglary. Usually the police are on site gathering evidence and making a report of when the crime could have occurred, how the burglars broke-in, and what was taken. My job is to change the locks to a different key because a set of keys was stolen. Often I need to repair the door frame and door and install better deadbolt locks. The home is usually a mess, no drawer or cabinet is left untouched. The bed is torn apart also, all with the intent of finding that golden hiding place where, “no one would think to look.”

This past year I had the pleasure of working for three customers whose loses were greatly minimized because most of their valuables were stored in a safe. Each safe was attacked violently, but kept the contents secure. The safes kept the dishonest creeps out and saved the owners many thousands of dollars, not to mention all the head-aches of dealing with insurance companies. Two of the safes had special order products or jewelry left for repair. Imagine telling a customer their precious family heirloom was stolen because thieves broke into your store and took everything. In these three cases the thieves were STOPPED, and the loses were reduced to TV sets and other electronic devices which can easily be replaced.

One customer had a home fire safe purchased at a “big box” store. Surprisingly the thugs could not break into the safe, even after peeling the face of the door off. The customer was smart enough to bolt the safe down so it could not be carried away. Plus the safe was tucked away in an odd closet. My guess is the crooks did not find the safe until they were leaving. They did not have enough time to finish the job and the safe more than paid for itself by staying sealed even while under heavy abuse.

This year take measures to protect your valuables with a real security container. The best safe is the one nobody knows you have. Keep the safe a secret, keep it hidden and bolt it down if the weight is under 500 pounds. Gun safes are not for protecting valuables like expensive jewelry, but they are better than nothing. Consult a safe specialist like myself or someone in your community for the safe which will best meet your needs.