Safe Openings For Estates
A common type of job
that people in my industry get hired to do is opening a safe at a home or
business after the owner has died.
Usually we're contacted
by the person or people handling the affairs of the deceased.
Combination Available,
Not Working
Sometimes it's as
simple as "Before my father died he gave us the combination to his
safe, but we can't get it open."
This is (usually) an
easy one:
You're probably dialing the correct numbers, but dialing incorrectly.
If you know the combination is correct, chances of this are very good. I know, I know, you're not a fool, you know right from left, and you've been dialing slowly and carefully. But the chances are nevertheless very good that you've been dialing slowly, carefully, and incorrectly.
You're probably dialing the correct numbers, but dialing incorrectly.
If you know the combination is correct, chances of this are very good. I know, I know, you're not a fool, you know right from left, and you've been dialing slowly and carefully. But the chances are nevertheless very good that you've been dialing slowly, carefully, and incorrectly.
Most people who don't
operate safe dials on a regular basis misinterpret simple dialing instructions,
then proceed to apply incorrect dialing procedure repeatedly and carefully, and
unsuccessfully. They surmise that the combination they have is wrong, then call
someone like me.
Here I'll just refer
those of you having that problem to one of my earlier blog entries, "How
To Dial A Safe Combination" (January 30th, 2009).
Read it carefully and
follow the instructions I gave there. That might be all you need to solve the
problem without any outside help.
No Combination Available?
This is obviously
different. Before calling a safe technician, try the following:
Make a thorough search
of the safe owner's personal effects; slips of paper in a wallet, desk drawer, whatever.
You're looking for any strings of three or four numbers, sometimes with
notations like "4 left, three right," etcetera. If you see something
like this, it could be the safe combination. If you're unsure how to dial, see
my earlier blog.
The most common (but
not the only) turning sequence for safe combination locks made in the last 50
years is as follows:
4 times Left to xx
3 times Right to xx
2 times Left to xx
1 time Right until
dial stops solidly
There are other dialing
sequences, but what you see above is most common.
Finding An Unknown
Combination
Look all around the
immediate area of the safe; walls, back of closet door, wherever. Again, you're
looking for the same sort of thing; any group of numbers and accompanying notes
that could be a safe combination. Safe owners often make little reminder
notations in the immediate area of the safe.
Think of dates that
were significant to the safe's owner. Birthdays of that person, close
relations, and friends, important anniversaries, whatever. Dates can be
represented easily in safe combinations.
If the safe's owner had
an address book or Rolodex-type file for writing names, addresses, and phone
numbers, look under "C" for combination, "S" for safe,
"V" for vault, or whatever comes to mind. Sometimes people jot
safe combinations on the first or last page of files like these.
If the owner had a
desk, look under the blotter if there is one. Pull out drawers and side returns
and look underneath for taped-on pieces of paper. Not uncommon.
Also, if the safe owner
had a safe deposit box at his or her bank, inspect the contents and see if the
safe combination is inside. If you're not designated in advanced as someone who
can have access to the safe deposit box, you'll have to go through some legal rigamarole
first (the bank will instruct you), but get that done before hiring a
safecracker.
Call A Safe Opener
In your search of phone
directories and on line data, favor the words "safe service,"
"safe technician," "safecracker," or "safe and
vault" as search terms.
Unfortunately for safe
specialists, far too many consumers automatically default to the search term "locksmith"
in such instances. Indeed there are some locksmith companies that can provide a
very capable safe technician, but even more that can't. And of those that
can't, most will still take the job, and some will botch it badly. Some will
accept the job, arrive, announce that they can't do it, then try to collect
money for coming out to tell you that.
If You Hire Someone
. . .
You'll need the
following:
A legal document
that names you as executor of the deceased person's estate. (often it helps to
make and provide a copy to the safe opener)
Identification.
Check, cash or
credit card. Most safe openers won't "bill the estate."
Clear, detailed
photos of the safe to be opened, which can be sent by phone text-messaging
or via email to give the safe opener an idea of the scope of the work. At least
one shot should be a full frontal photo, then a close-up of the dial/keypad and
safe door handle. Photos let the safe opener know what work he is quoting, and
also whether he needs to bring any specialized equipment to the job.
When the safe does
open:
Remove each item inside
separately and carefully.
If you don't know
beforehand exactly what's inside the safe, and chances are you don't, virtually
anything could be inside. In other words, whatever fits inside the safe
could be in there. Besides valuables, personal papers, and wills, people who
have hired me to open decedents' safes have found drugs (legal and not), loaded
and unloaded firearms and other weapons, ammunition, illegal substances,
explosive ordnance, toxic materials, and "objectionable" materials.
If you're ever involved
in something like I've described here after the death of a relative or a
friend, it will go smoothly if you handle it in a level-headed way.
As always, reader comments are welcome.
Ken Dunckel
Safecracker
San Francisco Bay Area & Northern California
kendunckel@aol.com
(415) 203-7298
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