Safe cracking means to open the safe when you don’t have the right key or code.Though it may sound malicious (sound like breaking into a safe), it proves useful when you lose a key or code.There are different ways to do it, depending on how the safe is made. If you want to know more about locksmithing, here are some ways locksmiths open safes nowadays.
(NOTE: The information in this blog is for educational purposes only. Don’t imply it unless you are a professional safe locksmith. Call a safe locksmith to address all concerns related to your safe locks.)
HOW TO OPEN A SAFE USING LOCK MANIPULATION
You’ve probably seen safe cracking scenes in Hollywood movies, where someone effortlessly retrieves a safe’s combination without causing any damage.
It might seem like a straightforward process, but in reality, it’s a skill that takes years to learn and perfect. Best part? It doesn’t involve complex tools.
This technique is called lock manipulation, and it’s typically used on Group 2 safe locks.
However, it can also work on Group 1 locks. To crack the safe, locksmiths carefully manipulate the lock, following specific steps to figure out each number in the combination.
They pay close attention to any imperfections they find inside the lock and use their skills to work around them, ultimately figuring out the correct combination. With the right lock manipulation technique, locksmiths can recover forgotten safe combinations and unlock the safe for you.
You can also try using an auto-safe dialer, which can be set up on a computer or as part of a manipulation robot. However, this method can take more than 24 hours to crack a safe, though recent advancements in lock bypass software and robotics have sped things up considerably. These devices can mimic the techniques of an experienced locksmith, relying on their sense of touch, sight, and hearing to make precise mechanical movements within the lock. The lock essentially “tells” them if they’re on the right track with each new number dialed.
If you’ve forgotten the combination to your safe, this manipulation method is a safe way to open it without causing any damage. But be aware that it can be a lengthy process, especially depending on the unique shapes of the lock’s wheels and the positions of the gates relative to those wheels. Professional locksmiths can also use advanced tools to manipulate combination locks more quickly and efficiently.
GUESSING THE SAFE COMBINATION
Sometimes, cracking a safe can be as simple as making guesses about the right combination. Many safe manufacturers provide a list of try-out combinations that locksmiths or safe owners can use to attempt to open the safe. Often, people choose combinations that are easy for them to remember, like their birthdates or driver’s license numbers. These are some of the first combinations that can be tested when trying to unlock a safe.
Tackling Tough Safes: Drilling Methods
Cracking open a complex safe can be a real challenge when guesswork or manipulation won’t do the trick.
In these situations, drilling and other physical techniques come into play. But don’t think it’s as simple as grabbing a drill and going at it.
To successfully drill a safe, you need precise instructions provided by the safe manufacturer in their specifications. Each safe model has its unique blueprint or spec, something you’d hardly ever stumble upon unless you’re the manufacturer or an authorized locksmith.
Safe drilling isn’t just about cracking safes wide open. It’s also used to fix a broken lock or as a strategic way to unlock a safe when you’re locked out. The drill holes help the person attempting to open the safe get a good look at the combination lock. You will find that most drill points are located near the dial axis on the lock. However, a locksmith can choose to drill from the side, back, or top based on the situation.
The locksmith then works on manipulating the dial to align its gates in just the right way so that the fence can drop, and the bolt can be disarmed.
Now, most safes aren’t sitting ducks waiting to be drilled open.
They’re built to withstand drilling and cutting attempts with some serious reinforcements like steel and composite hard plates and chips. These elements are designed to destroy the cutting tips of drill bits.
So, you can’t just use any regular drill bit. It takes special diamond discs or drill bits made of tough stuff like tungsten carbide to get through. If the safe has composite hard plates, it’s even more of a challenge, and cracking it open will take even longer.
Cracking High-Tech Safes:
Some super-secure safes come with nifty features like thermal re-lockers and glass re-lockers.
These devices kick into action when the temperature inside the safe gets too high. It’s a clever way to stop crooks from using torches or thermal lances to force the safe open.
You see, tools like a safe plasma cutter or a thermal lance can heat up to a scorching 3,990 °F, which is way hotter than your run-of-the-mill oxyacetylene torch. And when you’re dealing with a safe, you’re dealing with metal, which these tools can slice through like butter.
Now, let’s talk about a couple of sneaky methods used by the not-so-nice folks in the world of safe-cracking.
One method is called “punching,” and it was first invented by a guy named Pavle Stanimirovi. It’s all about giving the safe a solid hit to try and break in quickly. Then there’s “peeling,” which is another unique way to crack a safe. Instead of going through the trouble of picking the lock, peeling involves stripping away the safe’s outer “skin” to gain access. So, when it comes to cracking safes, there’s more to it than meets the eye!
Wrapping Up….
Safe cracking on your own may be fascinating. But in reality, it is a complicated job and should only be left to the professional. So don’t feel encouraged by this blog to crack open the safe unless you are a pro. Instead, call our professional locksmith services for safe cracking.
