One thing I have been thinking about when it comes to safes, is that they aren't very useful in a home invasion type of scenario. If someone puts a gun to your head and tells you to open the safe, you are going to do it.

 

There are ways to mitigate your losses in this situation, for instance by having a "bait safe" in the open, and the real safe with valuables hidden. Kinda tough to do with big gun safes though. I was thinking of moving my smaller valuables out of the main gun safe and using a different smaller safe hidden away for those things, at least it would mitigate your losses in a situation like a home invasion. The crook would think he/she has the crown jewels when you open your bait safe and they steal some cash and a few guns, then hopefully leave.

 

Other more active anti-home invasion tactics I was thinking about were adding a wireless home alarm panic button right by the safe keypad. I could even make it look like part of the mechanism, and push it while entering the combo. I'd have about 3 internal sirens , 1 external siren, and all the lights would turn on in the house (this is already part of my alarm). I could then stress-fully punch in the safe combo and lock out the safe by entering the combo wrong 3 times... would lock out for 5 min. Now the bad guy would have to decide to stick around for 5 min with all the alarm crap going off , or just flee. The danger in this is if they get angry, shoot me out of spite, then flee.

 

A little bit tinfoil... but it is something to think about.

I have a bait "lock box".. few papers in it, minimal cash and some baseball cards made to look valuable.

For guns and precious metals etc just make sure you have a homeowners rider for that stuff. It's not worth friggin around when someone has a gun to your head...

Your alarm idea will get you pistol wipped until you are unconcious, if not flat-out shot.

You need to consider the psychology of the type of individuals (yes, plural, invasions are rarely solo acts) who would perpetrate a home invasion and hold a gun to your head by your safe. In his mind: you disrespected him, you deprived him of what he is expecting to find in your safe, and he now needs to worry about how he will look in the eyes of his accomplices.

You can always install a few CCD cameras outside & inside to have the stream uploaded real time to the internet. That way, they can't destroy the evidence locally.

One of the problems that I perceive with having a large, visible safe, is that if word gets out to the wrong people, either through cleaning people, repair services, etc, is that one can become a more likely target for a home invasion. I know that's a bit off topic, but any thoughts on that?

One of the problems that I perceive with having a large, visible safe, is that if word gets out to the wrong people, either through cleaning people, repair services, etc, is that one can become a more likely target for a home invasion. I know that's a bit off topic, but any thoughts on that?

 

My larger "safe" is hidden, fairly well in a spot where NO service people or anyone other then my wife or I has a reason to be. When renovations start room by room it will eventually be hidden by a "secret" door and regular access to it will be gone. Nothing fancy, it's under some stairs with what appears from the side to be, nothing.

 

My gun cabinet, currently resides in the basement. Once I receive new locks for it, It'll move to our bedroom and get turned into another "secret". Building a cabinet and shelf system from floor to ceiling around it with a false back to give access to the cabinet door.

Best thing to do is to buy a 4 gauge safe with a timelock on it. then forget abot it.

For guns and precious metals etc just make sure you have a homeowners rider for that stuff. It's not worth friggin around when someone has a gun to your head...

 

Exactly. Better safe than sorry. This is your best option to cover your losees. A life is priceless.

 

Your alarm idea will get you pistol wipped until you are unconcious, if not flat-out shot.

You need to consider the psychology of the type of individuals (yes, plural, invasions are rarely solo acts) who would perpetrate a home invasion and hold a gun to your head by your safe. In his mind: you disrespected him, you deprived him of what he is expecting to find in your safe, and he now needs to worry about how he will look in the eyes of his accomplices.

 

I agree with this. I think having a gun safe hidden in a wall behind something may also be of importance. Maybe you are in a position where you have access to get to that safe and field a defense if needed. I am not saying become gi joe, but sometimes there is no peaceful way of dealing with things. Suppose your dead either way? I'd rather die trying imo.

For guns and precious metals etc just make sure you have a homeowners rider for that stuff. It's not worth friggin around when someone has a gun to your head...

 

Second this. Make a video of what's in your safe and include catalog numbers and receipts if you can. That way your insurance company can't screw you (in theory...they always find a way though right?) by playing around with model numbers and such and you "should" be able to get full replacement cost at current market prices out of them. Where you have a possible loss is the shipping, nics, transfer, tax factor...that's where the receipts come in handy. Only real loss is the nostalgia/attachment you may have to any specific piece, but agree with other posters it's not worth your life.

Thanks for the opinions guys. I tend to agree with the "active" plan not being the best. Scum that does this kind of thing will have no problem doing harm. I'm going to take the advice of separating some stuff from other stuff, and making sure everything is insured and documented.

I usually keep my gold coins and silver in my bug out bag. Along with mre's two boxes of ammo and some other survival crap. The last thing a thief will take is a backpack. What I keep in my Fireproof safe are my titles and other pertinent papers.

For guns and precious metals etc just make sure you have a homeowners rider for that stuff.

 

Hey, great advice! I hadn't thought to do that, so I just called my insurance agent today about being sure my firearms are insured. Ironically, before I had them, there was nothing in my house that I was concerned about losing.

Perimeter alarms are imperitive if you want to use the guns in a safe. Buys you time to get to your stuff. My dogs go absolutely spare if someone steps foot on the property at night. And we have an alarm system. We won't be surprised by someone bedside.

 

If somehow the situation does turn into gun at my head , they can have anything they want out of any safe in the house. The ony way I would react otherwise is if it seems the situation is going to escalate into an assault or worse.

 

An alarm that goes off while you are opening a safe for someone , will most likely make that person shoot you before they flee. If you ever get to the point where you are controlled by a gun the safest thing to do is compy unless you think they are going to hurt you anyway. And never get into a car or get lead away from your house , don;t go to a second location.

 

All IMO , formed by the way I have been trained to roll

Outside cameras are really our best option at the moment. Looking into it myself with a cloud backup incase they find the DVR.

I usually keep my gold coins and silver in my bug out bag. Along with mre's two boxes of ammo and some other survival crap. The last thing a thief will take is a backpack. What I keep in my Fireproof safe are my titles and other pertinent papers.

 

Your bug out bag must weigh a ton.

I usually keep my gold coins and silver in my bug out bag. Along with mre's two boxes of ammo and some other survival crap. The last thing a thief will take is a backpack. What I keep in my Fireproof safe are my titles and other pertinent papers.

 

My old apartment in Montclair was robbed twice. The first time they took an empty backpack I hadn't used in years, the second time my gym bag (after dumping the clothes on the floor.)

 

They need something to carry their haul off with and a backpack or bag looks a lot less suspicious than a pillowcase.

Distributing valuables throughout the house would be a good idea. So is having some worthless "decoy loot" to satify the thief's greed.

 

When it comes to a home invasion, once you're on your knees with a gun to your head it's a little late to be worrying about possessions. At that point the goal is to simply protect yourself and loved ones. I like the idea of having various weapons hidden in unlikely places, but if children are around this could be disaterous. At this point, I rely on canine early-warning to make sure I don't wake up with a pistol in my face. My dog goes nuts when a fly farts two towns over. If someone manages to get even close to the door without her making a racket he should join the Navy Seals.