Where is your gun safe?

I live in VA, and my reloading bench, my desk/computer and my safe are all in one of the 3 basement rooms. Works perfectly well for me

Ultra said:

You don't really think thats going to keep anyone out for more then a minute or so, do you?

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Well, I guess if your well versed in picking locks and disarming alarm systems you'll get away with a pretty good haul.
How many burglars have you heard of showing up with a 8# sledge hammer? Thieves are lazy IMO, otherwise they'd have a real job.
If I lived in the middle of no mans land I'd have a safe.

Mine is pretty large and sits in a corner of the Master Bedroom. A short wall was added during building by us to make the safe "disappear" and you don't see it just casually waking around the bedroom. You have to go all the way to the end and look left, plus the sides are protected that way.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultra
You don't really think thats going to keep anyone out for more then a minute or so, do you?

Well, I guess if your well versed in picking locks and disarming alarm systems you'll get away with a pretty good haul.
How many burglars have you heard of showing up with a 8# sledge hammer? Thieves are lazy IMO, otherwise they'd have a real job.
If I lived in the middle of no mans land I'd have a safe.

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They do show up with cordless sawzall's though, and they would be in that room in no time!

DM

They do show up with cordless sawzall's though, and they would be in that room in no time!

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They would also end up in most gun safes in no time with the same tools. I'm assuming the room was less expensive to build, and offers more storage room. Since he's probably getting similar protection, spent less money, and has more space, it's a solid win for him.

DM~ said:

They do show up with cordless sawzall's though, and they would be in that room in no time!

DM

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True, but does anyone have a real life story of this happening to them? I think most petty thieves will pawn a power tool like this for some more drug money before they realize what an asset it could be in "their business".

I'd guess a lot of safe owners have tools at their house that could be used to bust open a safe.

Don't have one, cannot afford it.
But would put in bedroom if I had one.

I assure you, they won't get anything of mine with a sawzall, you just have to learn how to do things the right way, to protect against tools like that.

I have heard of theives using them to get into houses. I've heard of then useing them to steal cat converters off cars, and a few other uses too. (on the news)

DM

All in climate controlled areas away from basements and garages.

I'm confortable with my closet. Even professional thieves are going to pick an easier target than a house with an alarm system.
I get lots of storage plus room for all my guns and my wifes jewelry. Besides, if it's winter, they'll be too busy stealing my wife's fur coats!

Spare bedroom in the closet, out of sight/out of mind. No need to advertise to the neighbors or passerbys in my garage.

In the bedroom, in the wall in it's own closet, totally unrecognizable. Also protected by an alarm for each door you have to open to get into the safe. Someone mentioned earlier "out of sight, out of mind." I couldn't agree more...

In the garage with my plasma cutter, chisels, sledge hammer, cutting torch, sawzall and crowbars. Combo is 36-24-36 so please don't scratch the paint if you need anything.
Mike

rbernie said:

I know someone who bolts moderately sized gun safes (RSCs) into unused corners of bedroom closets. The idea has its attraction; they are in climate controlled space, and it should take longer to find them and longer to compromise them.

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This is my approach, as well. For both ease of access and security; anytime I or my brother are in our house someone would have to go through us to get to it - plus, someone would have to have an idea of where it is - then they would have to bring the tools to tackle it, as it is lag screwed to the wall studs. And my tools are locked up outside in cabinets in the garage - I'm not going to make it easy for them!

Secondly, each of us needs to have backup plans in case our security measures are defeated and our guns stolen - a complete inventory of what is in your collection plus photos of same stored off-site using a storage space like photobucket or similar, so if the worst happens you can at least recover from it. My opinion only.

Pistola said:

Don't have one, cannot afford it.
But would put in bedroom if I had one.

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You appear to recognize the value of locking up your guns - I would recommend you get at least a Residential Security Container (RSC) or locking case of some kind you can secure to the structure if you have not already. That little bit of protection (compared to full-on safes) would have prevented many a gun theft.

Mine is in my home office. I have the large metal desiccant canister, it changes color when it is saturated....pop it in the oven, let it cool and re-use it.

Our house is a slab house, not off grade. So I I bolted it it the slab with SS bolts and anchors. That with the almost 900 pound weight (empty) should make it stay put.

climate controlled

An arms reach from my bed. Way too much stored in it including important papers, passports and birth certificates. One of the best buys I've ever made. If you have kids, make a safe a priority!

In the basement where burglars never go. It has a Golden Rod in it and I keep the basement at 50% humidity.

Don’t have a safe. Built a false wall in the back of the closet. Real easy to get into if they get past 70 pounds of Rotwieller and if they can find it.

It has been my experience that most thieves do not try to bust open the safe in the home. They pry it loose from the wall/floor and haul it off to open at their convenience. Remember, they want to get in and out fast.
My friend has 2 safes. One is a good safe hidden in a large closet. the other is a RSC in plain sight in the living room.
The RSC has some 4-5foot sections of pipe and some lead bars and a concrete block for weight.
Thieves should see/find the RSC right away, feel it's full when taking it away thus not looking for or finding the well concealed safe.
Not a bad idea when you think about it.
David.

I sized one of my safe to fit into a space for a spare fridge in the core of my house. It fits the wall tight enough that you cannot get a chain in around it to pull it out.

I take a layered approach to security. To get to the safe you have to get by the house security. To move the safe you have to get past its security and pull it off the floor. While I recognize a pro would have no issues with this, it all takes time and this is what I am banking on. Nosy neighbors also help a great deal!