More F.A.Q.s and answers will be added regularly.
Q: When I am talking to Ken (The Safecracker) on the phone, he asks me what the make and model of my safe is. How do I answer that question if there's no name or model info anywhere on the outside of the safe?
A: Identification of a particular safe can be difficult, even for an expert, but the more info you gather, the better. Type of lock, type of handle, the look of the hinges or caster/wheels, any labels found, and general appearance (including paint color) can give very good clues as to the original maker. When all else fails or even at the beginning of a phone conversation with a safe owner, I ask for photos of the safe. An overall photo of the safe, as well as close-up photos of any pertinent details that are clear, focused and well-exposed will usually give me all the info I need to identify your safe. A few more questions about the problem you are experiencing, your location and how soon you need service is usually all I need to give you an accurate quote.
Q: How do I tell what type and brand of lock is on my safe?
A: The first thing I need to know is whether it's a mechanical (dial-type) or electronic (push-button) lock. Again, a photo is worth a thousand words and maybe some frustration.
Q: Will your quote include any necessary repairs?
A: If I have to open a safe that has a mechanical dial for a lost combination, often no repairs will be necessary. If there's a malfunction with the lock or boltwork mechanism, the problem may not be evident until after the door has been opened and an inspection of the door interior can be made., An accurate quote for repairs will be made after that inspection is completed. I often quote more complicated openings of safes, ATMs and vault doors as "Open-only" and quote the repairs, later.
Q: If my safe is locked and I think I know part of the combination, does that make it easier to open it by manipulation?
A: Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. If a safe hasn't been used for awhile, memory of the numbers can get fuzzy. When I spend time on numbers that are mis-remembered, it can actually add time to my manipulation efforts. On the other hand, sometimes the numbers can be accurate, but out of order or the user doesn't remember the proper sequence or dialing procedure. When I know the lock brand and type (determined by a couple of questions) I can usually supply the correct sequence and instructions to get your safe open, providing that the numbers are correct and there are no internal malfunctions.
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco, CA
1 (415) 519-3401
Email Ken
Copyright 2017 by Ken Doyle - The Safecracker - All rights reserved
The SAFECRACKER Q&A blog was created for people searching for answers to common questions about safes, vaults and combination locks and also as a place for me to express my opinions (or even do a little bit of ranting) about the industry I serve. Questions dealing with antique safe values or that request information that would compromise anyone's security will go unanswered, so please don't ask.
Monday, April 3, 2017
CLIENT REVIEWS
"I found your company through a Google listing, so I was in a sense “batting blind.” It’s rare to hit a home run batting blind, but that’s what happened when I stumbled upon you and you solved my problem on the phone. And with such expert product knowledge, kindness, good humor, and generosity of spirit too. You immediately diagnosed the problem and walked me through the solution. Our trusty safe is functioning again. And you didn’t charge me a penny!
We are a Catholic Shrine, a place where people variously broken by the challenges of modern life come to find a little peace and renew their sense of hope. I had my own hope in the essential goodness of others renewed through my encounter with you – an especially meaningful gift in this season of Lent. A thousand thanks."
S. Matthew - San Francisco, CA (via AS&V website and Google)
"I want to thank you for your assistance yesterday with my safe in Mill Valley, Ca. As you know my safe was having issues with its electrical system and the safe's dead bolts would not release. I had contacted two other safe companies that tried to help me with many suggestions but none that helped me to cure the problem. I was referred to you as a master safe/ vault professional. After corresponding with you via text and then sending you pictures of my safe, you then followed up with a phone call. You assisted me through many items to determine the problem. Once determining the likely problem you described in detail the appropriate actions for me to take to resolve it.
Thank goodness your keen knowledge and expertise worked and I was able to access the safe which had my important needed passports to travel this week. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your prompt response to my problem and how easy you made it for me to resolve the issue. You are my savior in this situation! I will recommend Advanced Safe & Vault to all my contacts with a with 5 stars rating. Thank you again for your prompt and professional service."
Dirk I. - Mill Valley, CA (via AS&V website)
"Ken was very helpful and willing to answer some safe questions on the phone. This is unusual and much appreciated. This is the person I would hire if I have safe failure."
"True to the words on his website, Ken helped me open my safe over the phone and didn't charge me a dime.
When I moved my safe to a new house and the safe's mechanical lock got moved despite me having it taped for years, as I would only use the key to open it. I knew the combination as I had it written down but couldn't figure it out to get the lock open. Ken walked me through it and now I'm back to normal. Ken is the best and I highly recommend him. Don't expect him to always be free, though!"
Dan B. San Rafael, CA (via Yelp)
"Been locked out? I know who to call and recommend. Ken Doyle is not only expert, he's committed to constant improvement and always upgrading his knowledge and skills. He'll get you loose of the jam you find yourself in - promptly, safely and with good humor."
Michael N., San Francisco, CA (via Linkedin)
"As a safe technician and locksmith myself, I've taken safe classes from Ken. Ken is a very professional and knowledgeable safe technician. Ken is considered an industry expert and has written numerous articles. He also acts as a consultant for other safe men."
G. Perry, Ridgecrest, CA (via Linkedin)
"I have known Ken since 2002 on a professional basis. I have hired Ken to open safes and do service work for specific projects for me in the SF Bay Area. Ken is a pro who knows his business and made large investments in training and equipment so he is able to provide the very best in service to his customers. Ken is known world wide as a professional safe expert and is looked up to by is colleagues and fellow safe professionals.
Fred C., San Mateo, CA (via Linkedin)
"Ken is an expert in his field and a consummate professional. His extensive knowledge of safes and the locks that go on them make him an excellent choice for all facets of safe work and repair."
Tasha B., Kaba-Mas-La Gard (via Linkedin)
"Ken Doyle is a leader and mentor to many in the safe industry. He is looked up to by a broad peer group for not only his skills but his willingness to share his knowledge with others. Ken takes his profession seriously and yet has a wonderful, quirky, sense of humor, as well. I can honestly say that in an industry that is predominantly male, Ken has treated me like an equal and is willing to help me when I need help, and willing to introduce me to others that may be of help. Having Ken as a friend and business associate is a great thing, because he truly is a professional of amazing skill and expertise. I highly recommend Ken for all of his skills, but particularly safe opening and servicing."
Hope T., Owner, Fradon Lock Co, Syracuse, NY (via AS&V Website)
"Ken Doyle is well known and respected in the Safe and Vault Industry. I have had the pleasure of having Ken help me with with my own safe lock needs as I specialize only in automotive locksmithing and firmly believe that a man must know his limitations. I recommend Ken Doyle without reservation." - Jim P. Owner, Old Capitol Lock Services, Benicia, CA (via Linkedin)
"Ken at Advanced Safe & Vault has been a working partner for the past 20 years. He has a strong work history, and is very knowledgeable in all aspects of safe and vault mechanics. High security and damage-free openings are what he is best at and I would not hesitate to work with him again on future projects, nor would I hesitate to give him a high recommendation to any of his future clients."
Mike O., Lone Star Safe & Vault, Dallas, TX (via Linkedin)
"I've used Ken to service many of my clients safe opening and service needs, as well as moving large safes from time to time. He knows his job, is honest and detail oriented ."
Steve H., former owner, All City Locksmiths, San Francisco, CA (via AS&V Website)
"Amazing products. Thanks for making a great scope light. Still in use after many years in service.
Advanced Safe offers the best in service and quality."
David K., Safe Technician, Formerly of SSF, CA (via Google)
"Ken is a very personable expert in the field of safes and lock. I have tapped Ken's knowledge over the years when I or a member of my unit was serving a narcotics or homicide search warrant and a safe was involved. Ken is efficient and trustworthy. Ken was also instrumental as a mentor when I opened a small locksmith business. He has also responded and opened several different types of safes for me over the years. He stays up to date with all of the new technology and innovations of the industry."
Mike S., Lieutenant-Inspector, San Francisco Police Dept., Retired (via Linkedin)
"I work with Ken a lot. This time he opened an ATM hours faster than others that my CSM has sent. He even took a few minutes after he repaired the door to help me with the lock that I was having trouble installing. I try to always ask for Ken."
Sam L., Diebold, Inc. (via AS&V Website)
"I've know Ken for years, when I worked for other lock and safe companies and now that I work for Diebold. Ken has opened many bank safes, vaults and ATMs for my company. He is knowledgeable, well-equipped, polite, neat and most importantly, FAST! He always does a first-rate job that reflects well on me, my company and impresses the client."
Chris. D., Diebold, Inc. (via AS&V Website)
"Today, Ken opened an ATM out at Oakland Airport that my guys had previously worked on for 2 days and had given up on it. Despite all the hassle of doing work inside the restricted area of an airport, Ken had it open and repaired the same day."
Jose E., Diebold, Inc. (Via AS&V Website)
"Ken and I worked on an Optiva 520 that had been locked-up for days. Ken got it open in only a couple of hours and even stayed with me after he finished the repair to make sure I had the lock installed and functioning. I was so glad Ken was so efficient and helpful because it was my daughter's birthday party that night and I thought I would be late for it."
Sabine R., Diebold, Inc. (via AS&V website)
"Ken is one of the nicest and most helpful persons I have came across in a long time. He provided me with so much information that he didn't even have to come over to open up my safe that I haven't been able to open up in over a year. He talked me through, step-by-step on the four number combination. What a true blessing to have him on the phone with the patience he had at 7:30 at night. No words can express my feelings on how much he has helped me and my wife out on opening up the safe. Thanks again, Ken you are number one on my of Safecrackers."
Don in Hayward - Via Yelp Review
Copyright 2019 by Ken Doyle - The Safecracker
Phone: 1 (415) 519-3401
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
We are a Catholic Shrine, a place where people variously broken by the challenges of modern life come to find a little peace and renew their sense of hope. I had my own hope in the essential goodness of others renewed through my encounter with you – an especially meaningful gift in this season of Lent. A thousand thanks."
S. Matthew - San Francisco, CA (via AS&V website and Google)
"I want to thank you for your assistance yesterday with my safe in Mill Valley, Ca. As you know my safe was having issues with its electrical system and the safe's dead bolts would not release. I had contacted two other safe companies that tried to help me with many suggestions but none that helped me to cure the problem. I was referred to you as a master safe/ vault professional. After corresponding with you via text and then sending you pictures of my safe, you then followed up with a phone call. You assisted me through many items to determine the problem. Once determining the likely problem you described in detail the appropriate actions for me to take to resolve it.
Thank goodness your keen knowledge and expertise worked and I was able to access the safe which had my important needed passports to travel this week. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your prompt response to my problem and how easy you made it for me to resolve the issue. You are my savior in this situation! I will recommend Advanced Safe & Vault to all my contacts with a with 5 stars rating. Thank you again for your prompt and professional service."
Dirk I. - Mill Valley, CA (via AS&V website)
"Ken was very helpful and willing to answer some safe questions on the phone. This is unusual and much appreciated. This is the person I would hire if I have safe failure."
Thomas N. (via Google)
"True to the words on his website, Ken helped me open my safe over the phone and didn't charge me a dime.
When I moved my safe to a new house and the safe's mechanical lock got moved despite me having it taped for years, as I would only use the key to open it. I knew the combination as I had it written down but couldn't figure it out to get the lock open. Ken walked me through it and now I'm back to normal. Ken is the best and I highly recommend him. Don't expect him to always be free, though!"
Dan B. San Rafael, CA (via Yelp)
"Been locked out? I know who to call and recommend. Ken Doyle is not only expert, he's committed to constant improvement and always upgrading his knowledge and skills. He'll get you loose of the jam you find yourself in - promptly, safely and with good humor."
Michael N., San Francisco, CA (via Linkedin)
"As a safe technician and locksmith myself, I've taken safe classes from Ken. Ken is a very professional and knowledgeable safe technician. Ken is considered an industry expert and has written numerous articles. He also acts as a consultant for other safe men."
G. Perry, Ridgecrest, CA (via Linkedin)
"I have known Ken since 2002 on a professional basis. I have hired Ken to open safes and do service work for specific projects for me in the SF Bay Area. Ken is a pro who knows his business and made large investments in training and equipment so he is able to provide the very best in service to his customers. Ken is known world wide as a professional safe expert and is looked up to by is colleagues and fellow safe professionals.
Fred C., San Mateo, CA (via Linkedin)
"Ken is an expert in his field and a consummate professional. His extensive knowledge of safes and the locks that go on them make him an excellent choice for all facets of safe work and repair."
Tasha B., Kaba-Mas-La Gard (via Linkedin)
"Ken Doyle is a leader and mentor to many in the safe industry. He is looked up to by a broad peer group for not only his skills but his willingness to share his knowledge with others. Ken takes his profession seriously and yet has a wonderful, quirky, sense of humor, as well. I can honestly say that in an industry that is predominantly male, Ken has treated me like an equal and is willing to help me when I need help, and willing to introduce me to others that may be of help. Having Ken as a friend and business associate is a great thing, because he truly is a professional of amazing skill and expertise. I highly recommend Ken for all of his skills, but particularly safe opening and servicing."
Hope T., Owner, Fradon Lock Co, Syracuse, NY (via AS&V Website)
"Ken Doyle is well known and respected in the Safe and Vault Industry. I have had the pleasure of having Ken help me with with my own safe lock needs as I specialize only in automotive locksmithing and firmly believe that a man must know his limitations. I recommend Ken Doyle without reservation." - Jim P. Owner, Old Capitol Lock Services, Benicia, CA (via Linkedin)
"Ken at Advanced Safe & Vault has been a working partner for the past 20 years. He has a strong work history, and is very knowledgeable in all aspects of safe and vault mechanics. High security and damage-free openings are what he is best at and I would not hesitate to work with him again on future projects, nor would I hesitate to give him a high recommendation to any of his future clients."
Mike O., Lone Star Safe & Vault, Dallas, TX (via Linkedin)
"I've used Ken to service many of my clients safe opening and service needs, as well as moving large safes from time to time. He knows his job, is honest and detail oriented ."
Steve H., former owner, All City Locksmiths, San Francisco, CA (via AS&V Website)
"Amazing products. Thanks for making a great scope light. Still in use after many years in service.
Advanced Safe offers the best in service and quality."
David K., Safe Technician, Formerly of SSF, CA (via Google)
"Ken is a very personable expert in the field of safes and lock. I have tapped Ken's knowledge over the years when I or a member of my unit was serving a narcotics or homicide search warrant and a safe was involved. Ken is efficient and trustworthy. Ken was also instrumental as a mentor when I opened a small locksmith business. He has also responded and opened several different types of safes for me over the years. He stays up to date with all of the new technology and innovations of the industry."
Mike S., Lieutenant-Inspector, San Francisco Police Dept., Retired (via Linkedin)
"I work with Ken a lot. This time he opened an ATM hours faster than others that my CSM has sent. He even took a few minutes after he repaired the door to help me with the lock that I was having trouble installing. I try to always ask for Ken."
Sam L., Diebold, Inc. (via AS&V Website)
"I've know Ken for years, when I worked for other lock and safe companies and now that I work for Diebold. Ken has opened many bank safes, vaults and ATMs for my company. He is knowledgeable, well-equipped, polite, neat and most importantly, FAST! He always does a first-rate job that reflects well on me, my company and impresses the client."
Chris. D., Diebold, Inc. (via AS&V Website)
"Today, Ken opened an ATM out at Oakland Airport that my guys had previously worked on for 2 days and had given up on it. Despite all the hassle of doing work inside the restricted area of an airport, Ken had it open and repaired the same day."
Jose E., Diebold, Inc. (Via AS&V Website)
"Ken and I worked on an Optiva 520 that had been locked-up for days. Ken got it open in only a couple of hours and even stayed with me after he finished the repair to make sure I had the lock installed and functioning. I was so glad Ken was so efficient and helpful because it was my daughter's birthday party that night and I thought I would be late for it."
Sabine R., Diebold, Inc. (via AS&V website)
"Ken is one of the nicest and most helpful persons I have came across in a long time. He provided me with so much information that he didn't even have to come over to open up my safe that I haven't been able to open up in over a year. He talked me through, step-by-step on the four number combination. What a true blessing to have him on the phone with the patience he had at 7:30 at night. No words can express my feelings on how much he has helped me and my wife out on opening up the safe. Thanks again, Ken you are number one on my of Safecrackers."
Don in Hayward - Via Yelp Review
Copyright 2019 by Ken Doyle - The Safecracker
Phone: 1 (415) 519-3401
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
Friday, June 1, 2012
Sharing an interview I did with Suzanne Yeagley at McSweeney's
TIMOTHY MCSWEENEY’S
Only desire is for your happiness
Interviews With People Who Have Interesting or Unusual Jobs
- - - -
We’re always looking for people with interesting or unusual jobs. If you fall into one of these categories, or know someone who does, please e-mail us at unusualjobs@mcsweeneys.net.
- - - -
Ken Doyle, Safecracker
By Suzanne Yeagley
- - - -
Q: How did you learn to be a safecracker?
A: In 1978 I took a correspondence course to learn the basics of locksmithing. The ad in the Popular Mechanics classifieds said, “Be your own boss.” The course consisted of about 70 lessons. I’d study each lesson and practice the particular skill required, like how to fit a key, lock disassembly, rekeying, etc.
Q: What does it mean to fit a key?
A: This is only one of a dozen basic locksmith skills. You insert a blank key, wiggle it while turning and the bumping action creates marks on the key blade. You file where the marks are until the key turns in the lock. It’s also known as “impressioning.”
Q: It seems like you could use this knowledge in bad ways if you wanted to.
A: Clients often ask, jokingly, whether we learn our trade in prison.
Technically, the biggest difference between what a burglar does and what I do is that the burglar wants to get in and out quickly and doesn’t care if the safe ever gets used again. I take my time because my objective is opening it with minimal damage so the owner can use it again.
A criminal safecracker also needs different knowledge and skills, beyond the technical, that I don’t have or need. I don’t need to know how to avoid leaving evidence, circumvent an alarm system, plan a get-away, or fence-stolen goods.
Q: Is it hard to open a safe?
A: Safecracking is about solving problems and overcoming challenges. That’s the fun part. There are basic skills and advanced skills. Expensive, burglary-resistant safes require advanced skills.
Q: How often do people get locked in vaults?
A: More often than you’d think and bank PR departments would like.
Usually the victims are children or seniors. Grandpa is busy examining the contents of his safe deposit box at closing time when a bank employee only performs part of the vault-closing procedure. Some vaults are L-shaped or there may be alcoves or obstructions inside, so it can happen if the closer doesn’t “walk the vault” as well as call out to possible occupants.
There was one case recently where a bank employee accidently locked her own child in the vault. Mom returned to finish “closing out” which included locking the vault. Again, skipping part of the procedure: “Hello? Anybody in there?” and the kid, playing hide and seek, kept quiet. Mom set the time lock and locked the door without walking in and looking, as was required by procedure. The time lock disengages only when the time runs out, usually an hour before the bank opens for business the next day. Once the door is locked, the time lock is automatic.
This was a comedy of errors from start to finish. First, the bank people called the vault service company and were told that the vault is ventilated, and there’s even a tool slot where a candy bar or juice can be passed through, and the mom can also talk to the kid through it until he falls asleep. The worst damage that could occur is that the kid pees on the carpet.
They also called the FBI bank robbery unit and were advised to make a hole in the wall because the time lock couldn’t be released from the outside. They called paramedics and firefighters who decided to drill a hole in the vault wall because they weren’t told about the ventilator.
It was decided to use a concrete coring company. They avoided the door and used a sixteen-inch concrete saw to make a hole in the vault wall. They were lucky because they managed to avoid hitting and destroying the valuables and documents within hundreds of metal safe deposit boxes stacked against the inside vault walls and rented to bank customers.
By the time they called me, they were halfway through the coring and starting to worry about a successful outcome. It would have cost $9K for me to come out, drill a small precise hole to destroy a five or six dollar part within the time lock, clean up a little drilling debris, replace the part, repair the tiny hole in the door so that the drill resistance was restored and have the door working again, all on the same day.
On the other hand, coring is a messy job. Water is used for lubrication and cooling during the procedure. There’s a mud trench to collect the mud and runoff, but it eventually results in lots of dust. Everything in the bank gets coated when it goes airborne. It gets into the computers, ATMs, bill counters, printers and on every surface. Unless each and every machine is thoroughly cleaned, the abrasive dust will eventually cause breakdowns.
The cost for concrete coring was only $2K, but they didn’t factor in the consequential costs. In addition to repairing the vault wall to the manufacturer’s specifications (about $6K), this incident ended up costing over $100K, including the cost to taxpayers for emergency personnel, extensive cleanup, and the repair or replacement of every piece of equipment that failed due to the dust plague. The bank might also have avoided embarrassing news coverage of the incident. Later, the bank manager told me, “I wish they’d have hired you.”
Q: Did they fire the mother?
A: No, they said that even though she broke procedure, the incident was punishment enough.
Q: How realistic are movies that show people breaking into vaults?
A: Not very! In the movies it takes five minutes of razzle-dazzle; in real life it’s usually at least a couple of hours of precision work for an easy, lost combination lockout.
Most vault lockouts are caused by malfunctions. A bank employee over-winds the time lock, a technician makes a mistake servicing the vault, or there was no maintenance because the bank has initiated yet another round of cost cutting.
Another 10-20% of my income comes from law enforcement searches and seizures or estate, aka “dead relative” openings. They hire me and I drill it open, but these are not situations where I like to hang around too long.
Q: Do you ever look inside?
A: I NEVER look. It’s none of my business. Involving yourself in people’s private affairs can lead to being subpoenaed in a lawsuit or criminal trial. Besides, I’d prefer not knowing about a client’s drug stash, personal porn, or belly button lint collection.
When I’m done I gather my tools and walk to the truck to write my invoice. Sometimes I’m out of the room before they open it. I don’t want to be nearby if there is a booby trap.
Q: Why would there be a booby trap?
A: The safe owner intentionally uses trip mechanisms, explosives or tear gas devices to “deter” unauthorized entry into his safe. It’s pretty stupid because I have yet to see any signs warning a would-be culprit about the danger.
Over the years I’ve found several tear gas devices in safes and vaults I’ve opened. These devices were marketed with names like “BEAVER” and “BADGER.” There are safecrackers that collect them.
Q: Have you ever met a lock you couldn’t pick?
A: There are several types of locks that are designed to be extremely pick-resistant, as there are combination safe locks that can slow down my efforts at manipulation.
I’ve never met a safe or lock that kept me out for very long. Not saying I can’t be stumped. Unknown mechanical malfunctions inside a safe or vault are the most challenging things I have to contend with and I will probably see one of those tomorrow since you just jinxed me with that question.
Copyright 2012 by Suzanne Yeagley and McSweeney's
This post copyright 2012-2017 by Ken Doyle - The Safecracker
E-mail Ken Doyle
Licensed Professional Safecracker
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco, The Bay Area and Northern California
+1 (415) 519-3401
Friday, November 4, 2011
Where should I place my safe to provide the most resistance to forced entry?
I answered this question on a forum recently and thought I'd repost it here, so that others might benefit.
QUESTION:
"A question for the expert, I'm about to move around my safe in the garage. Where is the best place to put it? I understand that big safes (mine is a Ft Knox) are actually more vulnerable at the sides. Would putting it in the corner at a 45 degree angle be the best option?"
ANSWER:
Yes, unless your safe is a UL TL-rated unit that is also designated "X6", the door has the most resistance to drilling, burning, grinding and other methods of forced entry by common hand and power tools used in burglary attempts. TL-15 and above also feature manipulation resistant mechanical combination locks or high quality electro-mechanical locks. Often these will also include a redundant feature for the utmost in reliability.
An X6 designation simply means that all six sides have the same rating and resistance to forced entry by the methods and tools described in the UL standards for testing.
For example:
TL-15 = Resistant to tool attacks for a net working time of fifteen minutes.
TRTL-30 = Resistant to tool and torch attacks for a net working time of thirty minutes.
TXTL-60 = Resistance to tool, torch and explosives attacks for a net working time of sixty minutes.
There is no UL rating (so far) for resistance to ballistic attacks, like you may have seen in the movie: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot starring Jeff Bridges and Clint Eastwood as a heavily-armed safecracker.
OTOH: safes can be built to higher standards but only test for a specific and lower level of UL certification. The Modul-X modular safes made in the USA by City Safe in New Jersey are tested for TL-30, but as you can see from the following YouTube video, they can withstand much more that what the UL tests for TL-30 throw at it.
City Safe MODUL-X safe panels are attacked by ballistic and explosives specialists from the Russian military
With regard to the best position to place it in, with a big heavy, well-made safe, the only sides you have to worry about is the top, left side, right side and the front/door. If I were placing your safe, I'd put one side against a solid wall, bolt the safe down and then move something else that is very heavy (like a metal cabinet, refrigerator or freezer) next to the other side. This will make it more difficult unless they move something, but it may also force them to waste time and tools attacking the front. By the time they learn that is easier to attack the sides, they will have to move whatever is in the way to start again. Since a large number of modern safes have the bolt of the lock facing down, an attack from the top is less likely to produce the desired result for the would-be burglars.
E-mail Ken
© 2011 by Ken Doyle
Licensed Professional Safecracker
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco Bay Area
+1 (415) 519-3401
QUESTION:
"A question for the expert, I'm about to move around my safe in the garage. Where is the best place to put it? I understand that big safes (mine is a Ft Knox) are actually more vulnerable at the sides. Would putting it in the corner at a 45 degree angle be the best option?"
ANSWER:
Yes, unless your safe is a UL TL-rated unit that is also designated "X6", the door has the most resistance to drilling, burning, grinding and other methods of forced entry by common hand and power tools used in burglary attempts. TL-15 and above also feature manipulation resistant mechanical combination locks or high quality electro-mechanical locks. Often these will also include a redundant feature for the utmost in reliability.
An X6 designation simply means that all six sides have the same rating and resistance to forced entry by the methods and tools described in the UL standards for testing.
For example:
TL-15 = Resistant to tool attacks for a net working time of fifteen minutes.
TRTL-30 = Resistant to tool and torch attacks for a net working time of thirty minutes.
TXTL-60 = Resistance to tool, torch and explosives attacks for a net working time of sixty minutes.
There is no UL rating (so far) for resistance to ballistic attacks, like you may have seen in the movie: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot starring Jeff Bridges and Clint Eastwood as a heavily-armed safecracker.
OTOH: safes can be built to higher standards but only test for a specific and lower level of UL certification. The Modul-X modular safes made in the USA by City Safe in New Jersey are tested for TL-30, but as you can see from the following YouTube video, they can withstand much more that what the UL tests for TL-30 throw at it.
City Safe MODUL-X safe panels are attacked by ballistic and explosives specialists from the Russian military
With regard to the best position to place it in, with a big heavy, well-made safe, the only sides you have to worry about is the top, left side, right side and the front/door. If I were placing your safe, I'd put one side against a solid wall, bolt the safe down and then move something else that is very heavy (like a metal cabinet, refrigerator or freezer) next to the other side. This will make it more difficult unless they move something, but it may also force them to waste time and tools attacking the front. By the time they learn that is easier to attack the sides, they will have to move whatever is in the way to start again. Since a large number of modern safes have the bolt of the lock facing down, an attack from the top is less likely to produce the desired result for the would-be burglars.
E-mail Ken
© 2011 by Ken Doyle
Licensed Professional Safecracker
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco Bay Area
+1 (415) 519-3401
Labels:
attack,
explosives,
high,
modul-x,
placement,
relocation,
safe,
security,
TRTL-30,
TXTL-60,
UL-ratings TL-30,
vault,
X6
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A Green Safecracker?
It seems like long-term priorities get all screwed-up when we have to suffer through disasters or a depressed economy. Yes, I did use the "D" word. Politicians and economists alike have been very careful to avoid using the "D" word in front of a microphone or TV camera, despite the fact that many know that's exactly what we're in and have been saying so, privately, since the end of 2008. Hey, I understand, it's scary stuff. In addition to it being too scary to talk about, it also seems to be too scary to define. I'm sure nobody really wants their own personal definition of economic depression to be adopted by the talking heads in the media, i.e. "Doyle's Definition": "A recession is when YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS lose their jobs or businesses. A depression is when YOU lose your job or your business goes belly-up." Just kidding, I didn't really say that. That's been around since the last great depression.
OK, I really am gonna get to get the point. I only bring that scary stuff up as an example of the kind of stuff that distracts us from seeing the big picture. Successful businesses, economies, governments and civilizations are those who can see the big picture and plan for the long haul, not a year down the line, not five years, but fifty or a hundred years. What's the point of having a healthy financial quarter or a great portfolio if your kids won't be able to earn a living or even be able to breath?
When I think about the future, I can't help but think about two films, made in the 70s with decidedly anti-corporate themes and the bleakest of outlooks. Bleak, that is, if you're just a regular person and not a corporate-person or a new globalist. I believe these films are an accurate prediction of things to come in the next 10-20 years if we don't take our collective heads out the sand. Rather than give my own opinion and interpretation of these two films, go to the IMDb links, read the synopsis, reviews and commentary and let's see if you don't agree?
ROLLERBALL
SOYLENT GREEN
OK, are you getting a hint about the depressing point I'm trying to make? Every couple of days, at my local supermarket checkout stand, I used to have to go through the mildly agonizing decision of whether I wanted "paper or plastic?". I'd think about it and talk about it with the woman behind the register and other customers who were waiting to check out. What's the point? If I say "paper", then I am condemning a tree, hurting the environment, but providing a living to loggers and their families, but killing spotted owls. If I say "plastic" am I not doing pretty much the same thing in only a slightly different way?
One of the greenest things that I do is to turn an old safe into something useful again. If I can also restore it to it's original function and appearance, the owner might tell me that it was money well-spent because, in addition to having a good, well-made safe to use, he now has an antique with considerably more collectable value than any modern safe could ever have and he receives admiring comments about it from everybody who walks into his office and sees it. "Wow" is usually the first word out of their mouths.
Another scenario might be that I go out to open a safe that has been sitting, neglected, for 30 years, but the new owner of the house or business wants to see if there is anything in it and also if it can be made useful again. Sometimes, if the safe looks pretty good, all I have to do is open it and do a little long overdue maintenance to return it to useful service. Sometimes, after the safe has been opened, repaired and serviced, the owner may want to paint it and decides to do that himself. Others may want to go the whole nine yards and asks about the ost to restore the safe to its original glory. Either way, what's happening is that we are recycling a useless hunk of junk that is in the way and turning into something of use, value, a sometimes a thing of beauty that reminds us, not of the age of cheap, throw-away, Wal-Mart-style consumerism, but of the age where people made things of beauty and craftsmanship in America. I think that is being green with a capital G!
Thanks for reading my latest rant. If you'd like to comment, please click the comments link or you can send me a private e-mail by clicking the following link:
Email Ken
© 2011 by Ken Doyle
Licensed Professional Safecracker
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco Bay Area
+1 (415) 519-3401
Send me an email
OK, I really am gonna get to get the point. I only bring that scary stuff up as an example of the kind of stuff that distracts us from seeing the big picture. Successful businesses, economies, governments and civilizations are those who can see the big picture and plan for the long haul, not a year down the line, not five years, but fifty or a hundred years. What's the point of having a healthy financial quarter or a great portfolio if your kids won't be able to earn a living or even be able to breath?
When I think about the future, I can't help but think about two films, made in the 70s with decidedly anti-corporate themes and the bleakest of outlooks. Bleak, that is, if you're just a regular person and not a corporate-person or a new globalist. I believe these films are an accurate prediction of things to come in the next 10-20 years if we don't take our collective heads out the sand. Rather than give my own opinion and interpretation of these two films, go to the IMDb links, read the synopsis, reviews and commentary and let's see if you don't agree?
ROLLERBALL
SOYLENT GREEN
OK, are you getting a hint about the depressing point I'm trying to make? Every couple of days, at my local supermarket checkout stand, I used to have to go through the mildly agonizing decision of whether I wanted "paper or plastic?". I'd think about it and talk about it with the woman behind the register and other customers who were waiting to check out. What's the point? If I say "paper", then I am condemning a tree, hurting the environment, but providing a living to loggers and their families, but killing spotted owls. If I say "plastic" am I not doing pretty much the same thing in only a slightly different way?
One of the greenest things that I do is to turn an old safe into something useful again. If I can also restore it to it's original function and appearance, the owner might tell me that it was money well-spent because, in addition to having a good, well-made safe to use, he now has an antique with considerably more collectable value than any modern safe could ever have and he receives admiring comments about it from everybody who walks into his office and sees it. "Wow" is usually the first word out of their mouths.
Another scenario might be that I go out to open a safe that has been sitting, neglected, for 30 years, but the new owner of the house or business wants to see if there is anything in it and also if it can be made useful again. Sometimes, if the safe looks pretty good, all I have to do is open it and do a little long overdue maintenance to return it to useful service. Sometimes, after the safe has been opened, repaired and serviced, the owner may want to paint it and decides to do that himself. Others may want to go the whole nine yards and asks about the ost to restore the safe to its original glory. Either way, what's happening is that we are recycling a useless hunk of junk that is in the way and turning into something of use, value, a sometimes a thing of beauty that reminds us, not of the age of cheap, throw-away, Wal-Mart-style consumerism, but of the age where people made things of beauty and craftsmanship in America. I think that is being green with a capital G!
Thanks for reading my latest rant. If you'd like to comment, please click the comments link or you can send me a private e-mail by clicking the following link:
Email Ken
© 2011 by Ken Doyle
Licensed Professional Safecracker
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco Bay Area
+1 (415) 519-3401
Send me an email
Labels:
cheap,
craftsmanship,
depression,
economy,
green,
recycling,
restoration,
safe,
value,
vault
Location:
Bay Area
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The fickle finger of fate strikes again
Yesterday morning I spent a couple hours in the south bay area opening a home safe after a successful burglary of the client's residence. The burglars didn't get in to the safe, but they did attempt to carry the safe out of the house. Weighing less than two hundred pounds, I was surprised that the intrepid thieves hadn't succeeded, as the safe was not bolted down.
After opening it, I was further surprised to find that this cheap imported safe, that probably retailed for less than $500, contained jewelry and other contents valued at over $150,000. Even this lightweight box had survived intact and done it's job. Too bad it hadn't done the whole job that it was intended to do.
The history of this safe is interesting and also typical. The users were having trouble opening it for a long time. It had a four-number combination lock as well as a secondary key-operated lock. It was located in a cramped, dark portion of an attic crawl space, a rather inconvenient, but hidden location. Unfortunately, inconvenience and the difficulty that the users had been experiencing operating the safe combined to make the users somewhat apathetic about using the safe (to the point that they accidently discarded the card containing the working combination numbers) and stopped locking the combination lock and relied solely on the key. They also stopped using the safe as often. So... they took to stashing some of the more often-used pieces of jewelry in a drawer in the bedroom. These items were valued at a little more than $100K and were easily found and taken by the thieves that had given up on the safe. In fact, the combination was actually scrambled and the combination lock was secured by the actions of the burglars.
When I asked the client why she had not purchased a bigger and better safe, one that was more appropriate to the value of what she was trying to protect, she said that "the bigger, better, higher-quality safes were too expensive." I asked: "Was more expensive than replacing or doing without the jewelry that disappeared from her bedroom drawer?"
Although my client was pleased with my work and the price for opening and returning her safe to useful service, she was a little annoyed at having her security shortcomings pointed out. I told her that, as a security professional, it was my job to do just that, embarrassing as it may be to her. Often, the perceived cost of protecting something, before the fact, seems much less in the aftermath of a loss.
$10K spent for a larger, quality, burglary-rated safe that might have been kept in a more convenient location, i.e. actually used every day, and that was roomy enough to store ALL of her precious valuables, would not have fallen out of use and certainly couldn't have been carried off by a group of intrepid, well-equipped thieves, much less opened by them on site. $10K spent back then would have prevented the loss, as well as her embarrassment and annoyance at my concerned questions. It surprised me that her response was to be further annoyed at my suggestion that she still had assets to protect. Would she be upgrading her safe or continuing with her current plan, despite her recent loss?
The most ironic part of this story is that she wasn't insured for the loss, not that the insurance company would have paid off if she was covered. In cases of high value assets, insurance underwriters can and do stipulate appropriate levels of protection as a requirement of issuing the policy. My client's inexpensive home safe would not have passed muster.
The depressing part of my job is that I meet folks who have been traumatized by a loss that, with the wealth and resources they obviously have, could have been prevented. They have been victimized and even though I am helping them cope with this tragedy, I am a reminder of what could have been done and wasn't. The most painful lesson is the one learned the hard way.
© 2011 by Ken Doyle - The Safecracker
Telephone: 1 (415) 519-3401
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco Bay Area
Send me an email
After opening it, I was further surprised to find that this cheap imported safe, that probably retailed for less than $500, contained jewelry and other contents valued at over $150,000. Even this lightweight box had survived intact and done it's job. Too bad it hadn't done the whole job that it was intended to do.
The history of this safe is interesting and also typical. The users were having trouble opening it for a long time. It had a four-number combination lock as well as a secondary key-operated lock. It was located in a cramped, dark portion of an attic crawl space, a rather inconvenient, but hidden location. Unfortunately, inconvenience and the difficulty that the users had been experiencing operating the safe combined to make the users somewhat apathetic about using the safe (to the point that they accidently discarded the card containing the working combination numbers) and stopped locking the combination lock and relied solely on the key. They also stopped using the safe as often. So... they took to stashing some of the more often-used pieces of jewelry in a drawer in the bedroom. These items were valued at a little more than $100K and were easily found and taken by the thieves that had given up on the safe. In fact, the combination was actually scrambled and the combination lock was secured by the actions of the burglars.
When I asked the client why she had not purchased a bigger and better safe, one that was more appropriate to the value of what she was trying to protect, she said that "the bigger, better, higher-quality safes were too expensive." I asked: "Was more expensive than replacing or doing without the jewelry that disappeared from her bedroom drawer?"
Although my client was pleased with my work and the price for opening and returning her safe to useful service, she was a little annoyed at having her security shortcomings pointed out. I told her that, as a security professional, it was my job to do just that, embarrassing as it may be to her. Often, the perceived cost of protecting something, before the fact, seems much less in the aftermath of a loss.
$10K spent for a larger, quality, burglary-rated safe that might have been kept in a more convenient location, i.e. actually used every day, and that was roomy enough to store ALL of her precious valuables, would not have fallen out of use and certainly couldn't have been carried off by a group of intrepid, well-equipped thieves, much less opened by them on site. $10K spent back then would have prevented the loss, as well as her embarrassment and annoyance at my concerned questions. It surprised me that her response was to be further annoyed at my suggestion that she still had assets to protect. Would she be upgrading her safe or continuing with her current plan, despite her recent loss?
The most ironic part of this story is that she wasn't insured for the loss, not that the insurance company would have paid off if she was covered. In cases of high value assets, insurance underwriters can and do stipulate appropriate levels of protection as a requirement of issuing the policy. My client's inexpensive home safe would not have passed muster.
The depressing part of my job is that I meet folks who have been traumatized by a loss that, with the wealth and resources they obviously have, could have been prevented. They have been victimized and even though I am helping them cope with this tragedy, I am a reminder of what could have been done and wasn't. The most painful lesson is the one learned the hard way.
© 2011 by Ken Doyle - The Safecracker
Telephone: 1 (415) 519-3401
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco Bay Area
Send me an email
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Dishonesty within the ranks of security professionals?
THIS BLOG WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON THE SAFE & VAULT TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE TECHNICAL FORUM.
"People who claim to be professionals in an industry that is all about security and protection of property shouldn't steal, right?"
Am I incredibly naive for making such a ridiculous statement and expecting the agreement of other security professionals?
As the years go by, I find that many in our industry have become desensitized to incidents of obvious dishonesty. No, I'm not talking about locksmiths and safemen who go bad and burglarize a customer or pilfer safe contents when nobody is looking. Thankfully, that is still a rare occurrence perpetrated by a few rogues who find themselves immediately ostracized by their colleagues and abandoned by clients if and when these indiscretions are discovered.
No, I'm referring to the subtle and common dishonesty. I'm talking about crimes like theft of intellectual property from web sites or stealing another's business name (and therefore his/her reputation) for use in scams. I'm talking about theft from association classes and trade show exhibitors or distributing, without permission, technical data created, collected and/or published by others. These are the little crimes that most in our industry don't pay much attention to, unless they become a victim. These crimes are motivated by personal gain, greed and laziness, just like robbery, burglary, credit card fraud or identity theft... so why would we consider tolerating them or sweeping the evidence of such misdeeds under the rug when they are discovered within our ranks?
Only three months ago, two of our industry colleagues discovered that photos from their own safe databases were turning up on CDs and DVDs that were being distributed (without their permission) by another well respected safe & vault professional that they also considered a trusted colleague and perhaps even a friend. This data was included on a class hand-out DVD that contained over 2 Gigabytes of safe photos, published articles, detailed safe and lock drawings and reams of material that was apparently downloaded from a popular, for-profit, online safe technicians forum. Of course, this isn't unusual or rare. Many of us are quite aware that safe & vault data is being traded, like baseball cards, at conventions, safe-opening parties and other industry gatherings. Maybe some of you already have some of this illicitly-obtained material in your own photo collections and computer databases? What's the big deal, right?
A few years ago, another friend told me that he had discovered that a guy, who he had shared his convention hotel room with, was attempting to copy safe data from his laptop computer while he wasn't looking. That same individual was later accused of stealing drill bits and other SAVTA property from classrooms. Pilferage from classes is, unfortunately, also nothing new. I've donated many tools and educational items to SAVTA over the years and many have disappeared into the pockets and tool kits of previous attendees and, therefore, are no longer available for use by current attendees. I'm not the only contributor who has experienced this phenomenon.
In 2005, a very expensive scope disappeared from my SAVTA exhibitor booth and, again, I am not the only exhibitor to experience these kinds of losses. At the last SAFETECH convention in San Diego, I returned to my room one evening to find my own notebook computer had grown legs and disappeared. Was it just a local burglar or an attendee? These are but a few of the incidents of which I am aware. Yes, SAVTA, exhibitors and attendees should be insured for these losses, but that's not the point, is it? Considering what we do for a living, this shouldn't be happening at all! Would I be scoffed at if I compared this larceny to a cop who takes a bribe to look the other way during a prostitution raid or a priest who molests an alter boy? Isn't this about abuse of trust? Where is the outrage within our community of so-called "professionals"?
In the safe & vault business, technical data is an extremely valuable commodity. One only needs to consider the cost of classes, association dues, drill point books, data CDs, videos and works such as the prized, hand-drawn illustrations made by Ed Willis to confirm that these things have enormous value to those of us who earn our living opening and servicing safes and vaults. Have we fostered a black market, that will eventually hurt our own bottom lines and futures?
I often wonder what goes through the mind of a technician or locksmith who would never think about stealing from a client, but who dutifully downloads and collects the photos and information shared by others on online forums, decides to burn a CD or DVD of it, then distributes it to friends and students or sells it. Maybe he doesn't think he will be caught. Maybe he doesn't care because making a few bucks or promoting himself by using the work of others is more important than personal loyalty, integrity, self esteem or his own good reputation.
As these kinds of abuses are becoming more common, i.e. no longer limited to those unethical purveyors, many of my friends and colleagues have decided not to post photos and details about openings in online technical forums in response to help requests. In fact, many have stopped replying to posts entirely, not only because of data theft, but because they are finding it much harder to make a living as more new techs enter their markets who, instead of creating their own database or legitimately purchasing the creative or technical work of others, have been equipped with tools, photos, data, drill point books and charts that have been supplied by the purveyors of the purloined. This pervasive "entitlement mentality", in addition to cheapening our industry, may have finally killed the goose. In my opinion, that naive goose should have gone belly-up, years ago!
© 2011 by Ken Doyle - The Safecracker
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco Bay Area
Telephone: 1 (415) 519-3401
Send me an email
"People who claim to be professionals in an industry that is all about security and protection of property shouldn't steal, right?"
Am I incredibly naive for making such a ridiculous statement and expecting the agreement of other security professionals?
As the years go by, I find that many in our industry have become desensitized to incidents of obvious dishonesty. No, I'm not talking about locksmiths and safemen who go bad and burglarize a customer or pilfer safe contents when nobody is looking. Thankfully, that is still a rare occurrence perpetrated by a few rogues who find themselves immediately ostracized by their colleagues and abandoned by clients if and when these indiscretions are discovered.
No, I'm referring to the subtle and common dishonesty. I'm talking about crimes like theft of intellectual property from web sites or stealing another's business name (and therefore his/her reputation) for use in scams. I'm talking about theft from association classes and trade show exhibitors or distributing, without permission, technical data created, collected and/or published by others. These are the little crimes that most in our industry don't pay much attention to, unless they become a victim. These crimes are motivated by personal gain, greed and laziness, just like robbery, burglary, credit card fraud or identity theft... so why would we consider tolerating them or sweeping the evidence of such misdeeds under the rug when they are discovered within our ranks?
Only three months ago, two of our industry colleagues discovered that photos from their own safe databases were turning up on CDs and DVDs that were being distributed (without their permission) by another well respected safe & vault professional that they also considered a trusted colleague and perhaps even a friend. This data was included on a class hand-out DVD that contained over 2 Gigabytes of safe photos, published articles, detailed safe and lock drawings and reams of material that was apparently downloaded from a popular, for-profit, online safe technicians forum. Of course, this isn't unusual or rare. Many of us are quite aware that safe & vault data is being traded, like baseball cards, at conventions, safe-opening parties and other industry gatherings. Maybe some of you already have some of this illicitly-obtained material in your own photo collections and computer databases? What's the big deal, right?
A few years ago, another friend told me that he had discovered that a guy, who he had shared his convention hotel room with, was attempting to copy safe data from his laptop computer while he wasn't looking. That same individual was later accused of stealing drill bits and other SAVTA property from classrooms. Pilferage from classes is, unfortunately, also nothing new. I've donated many tools and educational items to SAVTA over the years and many have disappeared into the pockets and tool kits of previous attendees and, therefore, are no longer available for use by current attendees. I'm not the only contributor who has experienced this phenomenon.
In 2005, a very expensive scope disappeared from my SAVTA exhibitor booth and, again, I am not the only exhibitor to experience these kinds of losses. At the last SAFETECH convention in San Diego, I returned to my room one evening to find my own notebook computer had grown legs and disappeared. Was it just a local burglar or an attendee? These are but a few of the incidents of which I am aware. Yes, SAVTA, exhibitors and attendees should be insured for these losses, but that's not the point, is it? Considering what we do for a living, this shouldn't be happening at all! Would I be scoffed at if I compared this larceny to a cop who takes a bribe to look the other way during a prostitution raid or a priest who molests an alter boy? Isn't this about abuse of trust? Where is the outrage within our community of so-called "professionals"?
In the safe & vault business, technical data is an extremely valuable commodity. One only needs to consider the cost of classes, association dues, drill point books, data CDs, videos and works such as the prized, hand-drawn illustrations made by Ed Willis to confirm that these things have enormous value to those of us who earn our living opening and servicing safes and vaults. Have we fostered a black market, that will eventually hurt our own bottom lines and futures?
I often wonder what goes through the mind of a technician or locksmith who would never think about stealing from a client, but who dutifully downloads and collects the photos and information shared by others on online forums, decides to burn a CD or DVD of it, then distributes it to friends and students or sells it. Maybe he doesn't think he will be caught. Maybe he doesn't care because making a few bucks or promoting himself by using the work of others is more important than personal loyalty, integrity, self esteem or his own good reputation.
As these kinds of abuses are becoming more common, i.e. no longer limited to those unethical purveyors, many of my friends and colleagues have decided not to post photos and details about openings in online technical forums in response to help requests. In fact, many have stopped replying to posts entirely, not only because of data theft, but because they are finding it much harder to make a living as more new techs enter their markets who, instead of creating their own database or legitimately purchasing the creative or technical work of others, have been equipped with tools, photos, data, drill point books and charts that have been supplied by the purveyors of the purloined. This pervasive "entitlement mentality", in addition to cheapening our industry, may have finally killed the goose. In my opinion, that naive goose should have gone belly-up, years ago!
© 2011 by Ken Doyle - The Safecracker
ADVANCED Safe & Vault
San Francisco Bay Area
Telephone: 1 (415) 519-3401
Send me an email
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)