Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Things to consider when purchasing / using a safe to keep valuables secure at home.


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Tuesday January 16, 2018, 5:12 PM

LASD - Altadena Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff

Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
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Community: Things to consider when purchasing / using a safe to keep valuables secure at home.
 
If you were raised in 30 plus years ago, there is a good chance your childhood was quite different than today.  Seatbelts were optional, and if your car was before the early 1960’s there may have not been any seatbelts at all, lead paint and asbestos were part of our past. And, if you grew up in a hunting and shooting family there would have been guns around.
Several other potentially dangerous objects were found in homes.  We were told, “not to touch” and likely if you are reading this, you made it out of the “dangerous” years unscathed.  How do we secure your possessions, and not make it too much of a nuisance that the security measures don’t go unused.
How do we best protect your property, guns and belongings?

Gun Cases
The primary role of this kind of affordable carry case is to protect one or more firearms from physical damage, NOT to prevent theft.  Burglars know what a gun case looks like and can easily pick up a locked case and carry it out of your home, only to pry it open later on.

Strong Boxes and Security Cases
represent an effort by manufacturers to provide gun owners with the anti-theft and gun-finish protection features of a locking gun cabinet while maintaining the portability of handgun and long-gun carry cases.  Also, unless the strong steel case isn’t anchored securly, there is a high probability of it being stolen.

Locking Steel Gun Cabinets
provide an increased level of storage capacity and internal configuration options, when compared to security cases and strong boxes, but they differ from gun safes in several respects. The thinner gauge of steel, a simple locking mechanism, and the absence of fire-resistant insulation keeps these units in the $150 to $450 price range and reduces their weight. Because these cabinets are light enough to be moved safely up and down stairs by just one or two people, they can be employed in locations such as apartment buildings or second-floor rooms, where a gun safe would be too large or heavy to install.

Gun Safes
represent the most secure gun storage option available to the average gun owner. A basic, no-frills safe is superior to any other storage option discussed so far in preventing unauthorized access to firearms. The dedicated racks and lined interiors will help to protect the finish of the guns and, most importantly, safes are an effective theft deterrent. A gun safe’s weight, the heavy-gauge steel of the outer box, the complex locking mechanism, and the option to bolt the safe directly to a concrete slab, all work together to frustrate the efforts of burglars. Safes not only fulfill the three-fold mission of safe gun storage, they can also provide additional protection against flooding, fires and other disasters. Quality safes are available from American manufacturers, including Cannon, Fort Knox and Liberty Safe.

The purchase of a gun safe represents a significant financial commitment. Just like other high-end consumer products, safes are available with a wide variety of features, all of which affect the bottom line cost of the unit. With prices ranging from $500 to more than $2,500, it’s important to understand which features are important to you. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when selecting a safe:

Many of the remaining features of a gun safe can be considered in the same way as those of an automobile. The fancier the paint job and upholstery are, the higher the cost will be. Electronic locks are faster and easier to use than manual (spin dial) locks, but they can be more expensive. When buying a vehicle, we pay close attention to how the configuration of the interior fits our requirements. With a safe, ensure that the shelves and racks will fit the gun collection properly so as to maximize your storage space. The thickness of the steel, and different fire ratings.  Not all safes are created equally, and please do your research prior to purchasing a fancy electronic safe that may be missing important features you may have wanted.

Not Bolting Safe Down:  Relying on the weight of the safe alone to keep it from getting stolen is naive.  Installing a gun safe without anchoring by bolting it down is like putting on a motorcycle helmet but not fastening the chin strap.  The un-anchored gun safe looks like it’s doing something, but at the first sign of trouble it’s going to disappear.

There is an advantage today over the past as the technology has changed and improved in so many ways, there are more options for responsible gun owners to choose from than ever before. No matter what your storage requirements or financial situation may be, there is a safe gun storage method to meet your needs.

Here is a helpful link:

http://www.nashvillesafehouse.com/faq/top-10-things-to-know-before-buying-a-safe/
For full details, view this message on the web.

 
Sent by LASD - Altadena Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff
780 E Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA 91001
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