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Just as with virtually anything you buy, what you pay for when you buy a safe, is what you get, and the more you spend on a high security safe, the better the chance of it giving you the ultimate in protection. Note also that not every safe is what it claims to be, and before buying one, you should always talk to a reputable safe dealer, to be sure that what you’re buying is genuine.

Mass produced safes are ones to watch out for:

What is the problem with mass produced safes?

Generally speaking, mass produced safes of all varieties are constructed with low grade, inexpensive materials, such as plastic or thin metal, and these can very easily be drilled into or pried apart. However, because of the clever way these safes are designed, you could be fooled into thinking that they were made of steel, when in reality, they probably wouldn’t stand up to a pry bar or drill.

While the price of such a safe might tempt you, the level of protection they offer, isn’t worth compromising on.

A high security safe that will protect your possessions effectively, should have thick metal walls that are made from a minimum of 12-gauge steel.

What about the components used to lock the safe?

While the construction of a safe is an important security feature, the locking mechanisms, bolts, and the lock itself, are just as significant. Did you know that criminals share their knowledge of how to break the locks on cheap, poorly constructed safes, with one another?

When buying a high security safe, be sure to examine the lock and locking mechanism, to ensure that it meets the necessary standards.

Which is best, a safe that’s burglar proof or a safe that’s fire resistant?

In fact, when it comes to fire resistant and burglar proof safes, you do usually need to make a choice between the two, as there are few models that provide adequate levels of protection from both theft and fire.

Fire rated safes are designed to protect your important documents or valuables in the event of a fire, and depending on their quality, the level of fire-resistance they offer can vary. In general, store-bought fire-rated safes provide around 30 minutes of fire resistance, but they are not usually as good at keeping criminals out, with the locks often being relatively easy for someone to bypass or break.

Burglary rated safes are designed with security specifically in mind, and one that has been constructed well and bought from a reputable seller, will be far more resistant to break-in attempts – from being pried open, drilled or smashed into – than a fire resistant safe. The lock will usually be more sophisticated, too.

The short answer to the original question is that no, not all safes are as safe as the next, but if you only ever buy from a registered and reputable seller, and are prepared to invest properly in a high security safe, you can make sure that your safe, is as safe as can be.