Home Safes Again Fail To Protect Coins From Thieves

I have been collecting for a very short period of time and collect on two different levels as I see it. One are the coins that I purchase that I view as an investment and the other being coins that I collect in the name of my new found hobby. Those that I have purchased for investment purposes go straight to our safe deposit box and the others are tucked away in safe spots around the house so that I can look at them at will.

JM2C

 

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I'm sorry, I just can't see having that much in valuables in the house. With the level of expertise of thieves these days, it's just a roll of the dice if your collection will be safe, and we know the dice never favor the one rolling them. JMO

 

My fruit cake tins work just fine.

 

I've told this story before. A neighbor of mine USED to brag about his Gold Coins. He had a safe and a home security system like the ones advertised on TV. He went on vacation. While gone a moving van pulled up in front of his house. The movers took their time and started to take everything. Other nosey neighbors asked the movers what was going on. They said the people that lived there liked it so much where they were they are moving there.
When the vacationers came home they found thier house cleaned out.
The safe was bolted to the floor. It was gone.
The security company called but the movers said all was OK. They took that system too.
No one could remember what the movers looked like, nor the company name.

 

LOL - If they can carry it while the crazy Marine has access to his S&W 44 - it would truly be a miracle if they survived! That said - I hope none of us ever have to encounter people that would lower themselves so - for these people really care for nothing but themselves!!!!

 

ROFL....me too!

 

With a home safe try to remember a few things.
When it is delivered and you live in an area where people can see this, word spreads that you have millions of dollars in your home.
If you have a safe where people can see it when they come over, again, word spreads about you having millions or even billions and all in cash and jewelry.
If you think bolted it to a floor or wall will stop criminals, they come prepared.
In case of a fire, yes it may be fire proof but the heat still builds up and all plastic inside melts all over your coins. The heat also will help in toning your coins too, so if you like toned coins, they will be there, maybe.
In case of a fire the heat build up will also do some damage to any wood or cardboard that the coins are in.

 

Yep.

One can have a home safe and a safe deposit box. I do.

At all times, the majority of my collection is at the bank. Only part is at home, and is in the safe when I'm not home. I pull it out in the evenings and weekends and enjoy 'em.

When I'm on vacation, 100% of the valuable ones are in the bank.

Thanks for the thread, Hobo. :thumb: It's good to have "both eyes open".

 

Well, whadda ya know? It's happened again!

4 kilos gold stolen

Gold closed today at $934.80/oz.

1 Troy oz = 31.1034 g

$934.80/oz / 31.1034 g/oz = $30.05/g

1 Kg = 1,000 g

So 4 Kg of gold is valued at 4,000 g X $30.05/g = $120,200

:bigeyes: OUCH!! :bigeyes:

 

My safe has a door that opens with a combination if I wish to enjoy my coins. Anything of REAL value sits in a bank vault. That opens too if I wish to enjoy them.

Home safes are only good if they weigh more than about 10 pianos, otherwise you'll lose the entire safe. They will get into it at their convience, not in your home if you have a small safe.

Why do folks keep really valuable stuff at home? It freaks me out. Even a gun, a dog and an alarm system cannot keep you breakproof. BAnk vaults gang for the good stuff, and a deterent system for the rest. Add insurance, and you should be fine.

 

Absolutely, Jack. A home safe is fine for some things but anything worth a LOT should be kept in a bank safe deposit box. I wouldn't dream of storing $120 K worth of gold in a home safe.

 

There are oldtimers Hobo that remember the confiscation days, and don't trust banks. Even nowadays on the net, rumors spread. You'd be amazed at the amount of high value savings folks keep at home, they don;t trust banks. Boggles the mind.

Same with the gun collectors. " Pry them from my cold............" mentality


In this day of home invasions and high tech robbery, I trust a bank vault for my goodies. And all other security items available to the average citizen, but nothing beats smarts.

Security tips that I use are just basic. A PO box for coin periodicals, snip off the address label when discarding anything coin related or donating to the coin club. A good crosscut shredder. Don't put used flips and 2x2's into your home garbage. Tip your mailman well at Christmas and get on a good relationship with him/her, they will look out for you as well when time comes to sign for packages, they'll call your cell phone.


A fireplace helps

 

So I've been kinda perusing the responses as well as the original story.

As noted earlier TWO safes that fit into a closet? Gold and silver. HELLO safety deposit box?

I've accumulated a lot of stuff over the years. The good stuff sits in the big safe. I suppose a team could get it out given enough time. May have to do some "remodeling" to my house though.

Then I have a smaller safe. It could be stolen I'm sure. Nothing horribly valuable in there. What's in it would cost me more to store in a safety deposit box at this point.

Finally a third, really small safe. Lost the combination and am torn between picking it up and bringing it to the locksmith or just jacking the thing. Not hard at all with a good pry bar folks.

Probably have the locksmith do it so I can at least sell the safe.

 

Jack,

Don't take this the wrong way, but guns belong in your house. Coins belong in a bank vault. Not in a million years am I going to walk into any bank with a gun.

If I get robbed while I am not at home, I lose a few thousand dollars. If a thief tries to rob me while I am home, my guns ain't gonna help me if they are in a bank vault.

 

You read me wrong, my heater ( Detroit slang) is handy. I mean the gun collectors who keep a collection. Security is no good if not cocked and locked and within reach.

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Safes, Safety Deposit Boxes, and Locks are only to keep honest people out. Yes safety deposit boxes are the safest and get broken into the least but they still get broken into. All any one can do is make it as hard as possable for the thieves to take your valuables. Don't advertise, bolt down your safe, have a home security system, get a big dog. Guns only help if you are home and you know how and are willing to use them.

 

So true and if you think that would cause a problem, you should see what happened to me trying to take photos of a Banks Lobby. The place looked like an artist dream so I stupidly thought what great photos this place would make. Took out a camera and almost as fast as I could left it up, I was surrounded by gun tooting guards. After getting out of jail I said never again.

 

That's pretty funny - now.

I'm sure it wasn't at the time.