Introduction
Home safety is a major concern for many homeowners, especially with burglary statistics showing that on average 817 properties are burgled every day. That’s 34 per hour or one every 106 seconds, although 61% of burglaries take place between 6pm and 6am.
With such alarming numbers it’s no wonder that people are looking for ways to protect their homes from intruders and keep their valuables safe.
One way to do this is by investing in a home safe which can provide you with peace of mind knowing your most prized possessions are secure. In this article we will discuss the different types of home safes available, what features to look out for when buying one and our top 5 picks of the best home safes currently in the market.
Delving deeper into the burglary statistics
It is evident that burglars go after items that have monetary value as well as items that have sentimental value. Purses, wallets, money, and cards were taken in 45% of successful burglaries, followed by jewellery and computer/computer equipment (38% and 31%, respectively). Electrical goods and cameras, watches, and mobile devices rounded out the top five items stolen in 16%, 15%, and 13% of burglaries. However, it is interesting to note that the remaining items stolen, such as car keys, clothes, vehicle/vehicle parts, handbags, briefcases, and food/toiletries/cigarettes were all taken in 10% or less of successful burglaries. This suggests that while burglars appreciate value, they appear to be most motivated by easily sold or re-used items.
Home Security
Home security is a hugely important issue that requires a multifaceted approach if it is to be successful. Homeowners should not rely on just one single solution such as door locks or an alarm system, but instead use multiple security measures in combination to ensure maximum protection of their homes and families. Security lighting and CCTV are a great examples of the kind of system that can be used to protect a home’s perimeter.
The different types of home safes and their features
Fireproof Safes / Fire Resistant Safes
These safes are designed to protect your valuables from fire and heat damage. They are lined with fire resistant material and are often rated for a certain temperature and duration of time. Safes with electronic locks require power which typically comes from AA batteries. Batteries only have a certain lifespan and you should bear that lifespan in mind and change them before they run flat or leak.
Waterproof Safes
These safes are designed to protect your valuables from water damage. Although water damage could occur from floods, plumbing leaks, etc, they are commonly built to withstand a fire and the ensuing water from the fire department. They are usually made from stainless steel and have a gasket that seals the safe shut when closed.
Burglar Safes
These safes are designed to protect your valuables from theft. They are often made of reinforced steel and are designed to be difficult to break into.
Biometric Safes
These safes are designed to protect your valuables from unauthorized access. They use biometric technology, such as fingerprints, to unlock the safe.
Hidden Safes
These safes are designed to protect your valuables from detection. They can be hidden in walls, furniture, or other inconspicuous places, making them difficult to locate. They may be hidden in plain sight such as disguised as a book.
Gun Safes
These safes are designed to protect your firearms from theft and unauthorized access. They are typically made of reinforced steel and come with a variety of locking mechanisms.
Digital Safes
These safes are designed to protect your valuables from unauthorized access. They use digital technology, such as combination locks or keypads, to unlock the safe.
Portable Safes
These safes are designed to be portable and easy to transport. They are often made of lightweight materials and come with carrying straps or handles.
What to look for when buying the best home safe
When purchasing a home safe, it is important to consider several factors such as size, weight, fire protection capabilities, security features, ease of installation and access, warranty information and price.
You should consider whether or not your safe needs to withstand a fire, in which case you will need to look for one with built-in fire protection features. You should bear in mind that items you may wish to protect inside the safe will have different tolerances to increased temperature. Magnetic backup tapes, photographic film negatives, CDs and DVDs can all be damaged if exposed to temperatures above 60°C (140°F). New-style polymer banknotes will be damaged above 120°C (248°F). Fire safes are typically designed to keep their contents below 177°C (350°F), and can only ever be considered fire resistant. If you want to keep backup archives and hard drives protected from fire damage, then you need to invest in the next level of fire safe which is a Data Safe.
Paying close attention to the size of the safe is important since it should be large enough to accommodate your valuables without taking up too much space. Fire safes typically have a thick lining within the walls, meaning the available storage space inside is less than an equivalent-size non-fireproof safe.
How you open the safe should be a major consideration. There are different security mechanisms available and often the safe will offer multiple ways of opening it as a way to get around forgotten codes or flat batteries. You should bear in mind that each way of opening a safe brings vulnerabilities and the safe is only as secure as the weakest one. For example, if the safe has the best electronic combination lock or digital keypad available, but a terrible key lock with backup key that can be picked with a paperclip, the expensive digital keypad is redundant.
If your insurance company has specified a particular insurance rating, your new safe will need to have at least their recommended insurance rating to be insurance approved.
The weight of the safe is also important since heavier safes are usually more secure and more difficult to carry away. Again, fireproof safes are typically heavier due to all the extra material.
It’s also important to look at the security features, ease of installation and access, warranty information and price.
Tips on where to place a home safe in your house for maximum security
A home safe is a useful asset for protecting your valuables, and it’s important to choose the right place to site it. Here are some tips on where to securely position a home safe in your house for maximum protection: considering visibility factors, installation space requirements, and access points; understanding the risks of burglars breaking into vulnerable areas of your home; and choosing a site that is not easily accessible or movable.
Considering Visibility Factors, Installation Space Requirements, and Access Points
When selecting the best location for a home safe in your house, it’s important to consider visibility factors such as how visible the safe will be from outside the house, whether it will be visible from other rooms in the house, and whether it can be accessed easily. You also need to make sure that there is enough space for installation and consider any access points such as windows or doors that may provide entry into the area where the safe will be placed.
Understanding the Risks of Burglars Breaking Into Vulnerable Areas of Your Home
When deciding the best place for a home safe, it’s important to understand the risks of burglars breaking into vulnerable areas of your home. This includes understanding which areas are more prone to intrusions and which areas have better natural surveillance or protection. As such, you should avoid placing home safes in easily accessible places such as by windows and doors, or in places that are not regularly used such as basements or attics.
Choosing an Area That Is Not Easily Accessible or Movable
When selecting a place for your safe, you should choose an area that is not easily accessible or movable. This means avoiding spaces such as closets or shelves unless you can drill through and anchor the safe to something solid like the brick wall behind or the concrete floor.
It is important to find a place that has appropriate anchoring possibilities for maximum security and protection against theft: if the thief can pick the safe up and carry it away to work on elsewhere that’s what he’ll do.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that the best home safe is one that is hidden from view and securely installed in an area with limited access. With these tips, you should be able to find the perfect place to store your home safe.
The 5 best home safes
Vecta Personal Safe
We think the Vecta Personal Safe is the best home safe for securing your keys and small items. This wall-mounted electronic key and valuables safe features fast one-touch locking, a 4-digit user access code, a 4-digit Administrator (master) Code, as well as a key lock (two keys supplied).
It also has a large Digital Screen for an easy-to-read LED display, a soft-touch electronic keypad, and a motorised locking mechanism with low battery warning. Not only is it secured by design with 10 mm motorised chrome plated locking bolts and armoured steel anti-drill plates to protect the key access area, but it has also been awarded an Honorable Mention for the European Product Design Award 2020.
Customers have praised the Vecta Personal Safe for its solid steel construction, strength, convenience and price. The quality is said to be great, with an innovative design and easy-to-use features. It has also been recommended as a great way to secure vehicle, home and office keys, as well as a great key safe for keeping items like passports safe. Additionally, it is slim enough to fit behind a door, takes up no floor space, and the pre drilled holes are suitable for small expanding fixing bolts.
The only downside that customers have noted is that it did not come with a free Vecta Faraday pouch as promised. However, they still praised the product for its security and convenience.
Overall, the Vecta Personal Safe is an excellent choice for anyone looking to secure their keys and small items. It is strong, secure, easy to use and fits perfectly in any home, office or vehicle. It is also a great way to protect keyless ignition vehicles from theft, and it is highly recommended for anyone who wants to ensure that their keys are kept safe.
What customers are saying…
RPNB Deluxe Safe
The RPNB Deluxe Safe and Lock Box is a great home safe and an ideal solution for the security-conscious homeowner.
The solid steel walls and double cylinder latch provides superior protection against forced entry, making it an ideal floor safe to store cash, important documents and other valuables. The 43L capacity should be more than enough for most homeowners, and the dimensions of 35x33x42 cm (L x W x H) make it easy to find a place for it in any home.
The safe is also easy to use, with an electronic keypad with letters as well as numbers that can be programmed from 3 to 8 digits and a backup key. With lights flashing to indicate different states, you can easily tell when the battery is fully charged or if your operation is correct. Installation is also a breeze, with pre-drilled mounting holes and included hardware to mount in a shelf, closet, or under the floor.
Reviews of the RPNB Deluxe Safe are overwhelmingly positive. People are impressed by its strength and security, as well as its ease of use and installation. Many are glad to have a safe that nobody can access and appreciate the additional peace of mind that it brings. However, some customers have complained about the paintwork’s quality and the lack of password protection.
Overall, the RPNB Deluxe Safe is a great floor safe for the security-conscious homeowner. It provides a strong and secure way to store valuables and precious possessions with easy operation and installation.
What customers are saying…
Amazon Basics Security Safe
The Amazon Basics Security Safe 34 L is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable, secure and affordable solution to their storage needs. With a steel construction and carpeted floor to protect against scratches and damage, this safe offers a great level of protection for your important documents and valuables. It also features two live-door bolts and pry-resistant concealed hinges, as well as an adjustable and removable interior shelf, making it both secure and easy to access.
The exterior measures 43 x 37 x 27 cm (L x W x H), making it large enough to store a laptop and other items, while its interior space measures 42.7 x 30.8 x 26.7 cm (L x W x H), with a door that is approximately 5 cm thick. It also includes a reprogrammable electronic lock and four bolts to mount it to a wall, floor, or shelf. Additionally, it comes with two emergency override keys which have been updated since The Lockpicking Lawyer investigated this safe in 2019.
The Amazon Basics Security Safe 34 L has received excellent reviews from customers. Many have noted it to be of great quality and provide excellent peace of mind. It has also been praised for being a good value for money, with a sturdy construction and easy to use, up to eight-digit lock-pad code. Satisfied customers have also noted that it is not the most secure, but ideal for their home or office use.
Overall, the Amazon Basics Security Safe 34 L is a great choice for anyone looking for a secure and affordable storage solution. With its steel construction and reprogrammable digital access lock, customers can rest assured knowing their important items are safe and secure. With its great features and customer reviews, the Amazon Basics Security Safe 34 L is an excellent buy for anyone looking for a reliable and secure storage solution.
What customers are saying…
Yale YSV/200/DB2 Small Value Safe
The Yale YSV/200/DB2 Small Value Safe is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and secure home safe in which to store their valuables.
The simple-to-operate programmable digital keypad makes it easy to set up and customize your own personal code, while its compact size and lightweight make it easy to install on a floor or wall.
The safe provides excellent protection for your valuables, and its robust construction will deter the average burglar. With two override keys included, you can rest assured that your items are safe and secure. The internal size is large enough to accommodate small items, but not large enough for a laptop.
Installation is straightforward, with basic fixings included. However, the instructions are minimalistic, so it’s best to go with trial and error to get it up and running. The fixings provided are of poor quality, so you may need to invest in some extra wall bolts which would allow you to affix firmly to a brick wall.
In terms of build quality, the Yale YSV/200/DB2 Small Value Safe is adequate for the price. It’s not Fort Knox, and with a decent hammer and some time, it can be opened. But if you’re looking for a safe to keep your valuables out of the hands of thieving children or prying eyes, this is a great option.
Overall, the Yale YSV/200/DB2 Small Value Safe is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable and secure safe that won’t break the bank. With its simple operation and sturdy construction, it’s an ideal way to keep your valuables safe and sound.
What customers are saying…
Yale YSV/250/DB1 Medium Value Safe
The Yale YSV/250/DB1 Medium Value Safe is a must-have for anyone looking for a reliable and secure way to store their important belongings. It is constructed with a steel body and 15 mm solid steel locking bolts, making it a sturdy and robust safe. The safe is designed to look sleek and modern with its black finish, and it can be wall or floor mounted with all fittings and bolts included.
The digital keypad allows you to easily set up and change your own security code, and LED lights indicate the lock status. It also includes an override key in case of an emergency. It is a good size to store items such as passports, birth certificates, cards, cash and keys, but I wouldn’t recommend it for storing a laptop.
The instructions are minimal, and some customers have experienced difficulty in setting up the safe and finding the right size drill bit for the screws. However, the overall consensus seems to be that this is a good basic A4 safe that does the job. It is robust and secure for home use, providing protection from average burglars if installed correctly. It is also a good size for small items, can be affixed to the floor or wall, is easy to set up and comes with a spare key.
In conclusion, the Yale YSV/250/DB1 Medium Value Safe is a great choice for anyone looking for a secure and reliable way to store their valuables. It is easy to install and provides peace of mind knowing that your belongings will remain safe and secure.
What customers are saying…
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that there are many home safes available in the market for consumers to choose from. These vary in size, weight and fire protection capabilities as well as other features such as digital keypads or override keys. When deciding which safe to buy, customers should consider their needs and budget when selecting a suitable product. Additionally, they should be aware of where best to place the safe within their house for maximum security benefit. With these tips taken into consideration along with our list of the 5 best home safes currently on offer, you can rest assured knowing your valuables will remain secure at all times!
