Choosing a Wall Safe

These types of safe are essentially metal boxes that are set into a relevant wall. Usually they're referred to in terms of brick sizes, e.g. single brick, two bricks etc. With a two brick option indicating a safe the size of two bricks, one on top of the other. Some manufacturers vary this method of sizing, but the above is generally true.

The safe itself is just a box of welded metal, up to a quarter inch thick. The doors are usually the same thickness or thicker, rebating into slots made in the safe body or behind protective plates welded onto the safe, this removes fear of the hinge being a particular weakness.

The security of the door is by a bolt or bolts fitting into a recess in the safe body, or behind welded protected securing plates. These bolts are moved either by the lock key movement, or by a handle on the face of the door, which when turned, moves the bolts.

A major problem with wall safes is where they are sited. By the very nature of a wall safe it is necessary to remove part of the wall to insert the safe, with a possibility of weakening the wall unless the safe is secured correctly it may be "prised out". To help prevent this several types of plates and bolts are available to ensure a robust installation.

Where is the best place to install a wall safe? It's unlikely that there is such a thing as a practical place where the burglar wouldn't think of looking. If you can think of a place that's so obscure that a burglar wouldn't think to look, chances are that this place would be so inconvenient that you would not use the safe properly. Can you imagine clambering down into the cellar to secure your jewellery after after coming home from a party? Chances are you would place them on the dressing table and forget about them.

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