Locksmiths say there are ways of cracking open safes

A safe at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre was recently broken into and almost $500,000 was stolen.

Two men, aged 23 and 35 and who hold Vietnamese passports, were charged for their suspected involvement in the crime.

So how safe are safes?

Mr Melvin Tan, 48, owner of Singapore Locksmith Services, said there have been many instances where he has received a request to open a safe - but the safe did not belong to the requestor.

In a phone interview with The New Paper, Mr Tan said: "As a locksmith, I abide by a strict code of ethics to make sure that I open the safe for the right person."

He checks the identity card of the requestor before he carries on with his work during home or office visits.

He said: "I'll also ask them what's the content of the safe before opening it.

"Owners of the safes always answer without hesitation and with a slight sense of urgency. "

The locksmith of 25 years also explained the various ways to unlock a safe without cutting it open.

One technique involves using a ear amplifier and graph papers in a very quiet room.

"In the movies, the actor will sometimes hold the end of a stethoscope to the safe. That's to listen carefully for contact points," said Mr Tan.

Another method involves drilling a hole just long enough to put a tiny camera through.

Mr Tan explained: "It helps to scope the position of the dial. That will help locksmiths obtain the combination and open the safe. "

He added that there are robots, which costs thousands of dollars, to open safes.

BE CAREFUL

"That's why owners have to be careful about what they put in their safes," said Mr Tan.

Mr Chong Kee Sen, 57, president of the Institution of Engineers Singapore, said safe walls are made up of a combination of different materials.

Different tools have to be used to cut through them.

Mr Chong said: "They (the accused) might have used an oxy-acetylene torch to saw through the metal and a breaker or chisel to break through the cement.

"Some safe walls may also be embedded with a layer of copper plate, which helps to dissipate the heat of a cutting touch, thus slowing down the process."

He added: "Cutting a hole in a safe takes a lot of time and usually makes a lot of noise."

Sometimes, safes are only a deterrent.

Mr Thomas Ong, 59, owner of a local safe distributing company, said: "If they have the time and the right equipment, anyone can break into any safe - no matter how much the showroom salesman guarantees otherwise."

He has been in the business for 21 years and he said that while many safes in the market boast fire-resistant features, the material can last in high temperatures for only an hour or two.

Mr Ong said: "My advice for owners is to invest in added security measures like motion sensor lights or CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras, especially if they plan to keep many valuables in the safe."

If they have the time and the right equipment, anyone can break into any safe - no matter how much the showroom salesman guarantees otherwise.

- Mr Thomas Ong, 59, owner of a local safe distributing company, who said that a safe should be paired with other security measures.





See More:  http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/locksmiths-say-there-are-ways-cracking-open-safes
Related Post:  Fake Online Locksmiths May Be Out to Pick Your Pocket, Too

A safe at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre was recently broken into and almost $500,000 was stolen.
Two men, aged 23 and 35 and who hold Vietnamese passports, were charged for their suspected involvement in the crime.
So how safe are safes?
Mr Melvin Tan, 48, owner of Singapore Locksmith Services, said there have been many instances where he has received a request to open a safe - but the safe did not belong to the requestor.
In a phone interview with The New Paper, Mr Tan said: "As a locksmith, I abide by a strict code of ethics to make sure that I open the safe for the right person."
He checks the identity card of the requestor before he carries on with his work during home or office visits.
He said: "I'll also ask them what's the content of the safe before opening it.
"Owners of the safes always answer without hesitation and with a slight sense of urgency. "
The locksmith of 25 years also explained the various ways to unlock a safe without cutting it open.
One technique involves using a ear amplifier and graph papers in a very quiet room.
"In the movies, the actor will sometimes hold the end of a stethoscope to the safe. That's to listen carefully for contact points," said Mr Tan.

Another method involves drilling a hole just long enough to put a tiny camera through.
Mr Tan explained: "It helps to scope the position of the dial. That will help locksmiths obtain the combination and open the safe. "
He added that there are robots, which costs thousands of dollars, to open safes.
BE CAREFUL
"That's why owners have to be careful about what they put in their safes," said Mr Tan.
Mr Chong Kee Sen, 57, president of the Institution of Engineers Singapore, said safe walls are made up of a combination of different materials.
Different tools have to be used to cut through them.
Mr Chong said: "They (the accused) might have used an oxy-acetylene torch to saw through the metal and a breaker or chisel to break through the cement.
"Some safe walls may also be embedded with a layer of copper plate, which helps to dissipate the heat of a cutting touch, thus slowing down the process."
He added: "Cutting a hole in a safe takes a lot of time and usually makes a lot of noise."
Sometimes, safes are only a deterrent.
Mr Thomas Ong, 59, owner of a local safe distributing company, said: "If they have the time and the right equipment, anyone can break into any safe - no matter how much the showroom salesman guarantees otherwise."
He has been in the business for 21 years and he said that while many safes in the market boast fire-resistant features, the material can last in high temperatures for only an hour or two.
Mr Ong said: "My advice for owners is to invest in added security measures like motion sensor lights or CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras, especially if they plan to keep many valuables in the safe."
If they have the time and the right equipment, anyone can break into any safe - no matter how much the showroom salesman guarantees otherwise.
- Mr Thomas Ong, 59, owner of a local safe distributing company, who said that a safe should be paired with other security measures
- See more at: http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/locksmiths-say-there-are-ways-cracking-open-safes#sthash.NY33SNPn.dpuf

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Related Page: How To Search For Locksmith Services Online