It is natural to want to make sure that your home is secure as possible from thieves potentially running off with your most treasured possessions. It has been reported that domestic burglaries have risen by 30% according to new crime figures released by the Office for National Statistics. What’s more, it has been reported that 95% of UK burglaries and robberies were not solved in 2018.
With these shocking statistics in mind, taking proper steps to ensure your possessions are carefully secure in your property, such as installing intruder alarms and installing a safe at home, should be a top priority. We run through the different types of safes you can have for your property, as well as the potential pros and cons of having them.
What Kind of Protection do You Need?
Before deciding on which type of safe you want to buy for your home, you should firstly consider what type of property security and protection you are looking to actually gain from having a safe in the first place. Take into account the following when making your decision:
- Do you live in an area that is known for high rates of property crime?
- What is your biggest concern protection wise?
- Is it to make sure that your possessions are protected against fire, water damage, or burglaries?
- What kind of possessions would you intend to put in there?
- How big do you want the safe to be, and where would you put it?
Check European Safe Standards
It is worth remembering that with some less than premium models, it might not take much more than a smash of a hammer to unlock the safe, these are typically known as ‘microwave safes’ in this industry. As a result, you should be looking at the European Safe Standards of any safe you buy.
As a rule of thumb, safes that have a Grade 0 rating should be used only for storing up to £10,000 in cash or other possessions, whilst Grade 6 (the highest grade) will usually be secure enough to store up to £1.5 million in valuables.
Fireproof safes are an option to protect your valuables from theft and fire
Different Types of Safes for Your Home
Depending on a number of factors, including the level of protection and nature of your property, you can choose from different styles and types of safes to keep your valuables safe:
Wall Safes – A wall safe can be a fantastic way to keep your precious items safely secured. After all, not only should a safe be difficult to break open, but with a wall safe, it can be difficult to find in the first place too. These types of safes can usually be simply installed in your home in a few hours and once put into your wall, you can cover it with a mirror or painting to avoid it being detected.
Fireproof Home Safe – If you are concerned about a fire ruining your possessions, then a fireproof home safe could be worth buying. Remember though, that in order for a safe to be considered fire-resistant and to ensure proper fire protection, the safe itself needs to be able to protect the contents inside it for at least half an hour from extreme heat.
Lockbox-Style Home Safe – If you simply want to make sure that your passports, cash or maybe a few bits of important jewellery are kept safe, then a lockbox-style home safe may be worth buying. Usually fire resistant to a point and readily portable, it can help to protect valuables in your home. However, it is not necessarily recommended for high-cost items. These are often found in hotels and apartments.
Biometric Safe – If you are looking for a safe that has a biometric lock and an affordable price tag then deciding to buy a biometric safe may be your best option. With many kinds of biometric safes, you have the option of a mounting bracket too, which makes it more difficult for thieves to try and run off with your safe and your personal belongings inside. Furthermore, most biometric safes give you the option for saving up to 30 different types of fingerprints.
Bedside Safe – You might be interested in having a bedside safe, such as a biometric gun safe if you want to have the security of knowing your valuables are close to you, or that you can quickly grab possessions inside it at short notice, such as in the event of an emergency.
Floor Safes – If you are unable to make alterations to the walls in your property (in order to install a wall safe) then there are other options available to you: you could look at having a floor safe installed instead. This is an excellent alternative to drilling holes into your wall, and they can usually be bolted to the floor, as an extra defence against burglars. Floor safes tend to come in a number of shapes and sizes, meaning it is possible to fit them almost anywhere: whether it is the basement, the spare room or even your wardrobe.
