safecracker at large

How To Help, Not Hinder, the Safe Technician Space . . . the Last Frontier If I could open your safe without doing anything more than the improbable things a television or movie safecracker does, I would. I usually can't though. That means I have to get in front of the safe and do some work. And I usually need some room, not just for my physical presence, but probably for whatever tools I bring along. Not surprising, is it? So why is the safe buried in in the garage or blockaded under a stairwell, or obscured from access in any of the hundreds of ways I've seen when I get there to work? I'm the safe opener, not the furniture mover. And why do owners act startled when I tell them I need room? As long as they're easily movable. finding a few things in the way on a job isn't that much of a bother. But having to do a ten, twenty, or thirty minute-plus makeover in your garage or basement (or waiting while you do it) just ain't kosher, folks. In fact, it qualifies fo...

Get your information together before you call a safe company for a safe opening price. The most common question we safecrackers hear is "how much do you charge to open a safe?" That's a very broad question. Pretty much like calling a car repair place and asking "how much do you charge to fix a car?" See what I mean? What kind of car, and what's wrong with it? It's the same for the safe business: What kind of safe and what's wrong with it? If you ask the broad-spectrum question but don't supply even general details, the answer is going to be "anywhere from hundreds to thousands." Yikes, right? Not every safecracker who advertises safe openings can identify safes very well, so it behooves the safe owner to supply some information. And more is better than a little. "A big old black safe" isn't much help. . So here are a few items to note before calling: Maker's name, if visible. Safe makers commonly ei...