Of all the security implements we use on a regular basis, safes remain highly regarded. A safe has a reputation for being highly secure, durable and capable of protecting our most treasured assets. Whether you want to store away important data, valuable jewellery, prized family heirlooms, or even just some cash, safes make a great investment. 

Still, given that safes have been around for centuries, it stands to reason that most criminals know how to go about cracking a standard safe. Locksmiths can install high-security safes for you that have more comprehensive features. These are less likely to be broken into as they have more advanced locking mechanisms included. Still, even a standard safe can be made more secure. 

The challenge is making sure you understand how your safe locks work properly so you can get the most out of them. Have you invested in a safe, or are you thinking of having a safe fitted by a local locksmith? Then read on this safe guide by a seasoned professional locksmith Bradford. We’ll help you determine the best safe locking mechanisms available today. You can then choose a model that accurately suits your requirements. 

The Different Types Of Lock Mechanisms For Standard Safes

If you buy a safe, then it will come with one or multiple locking mechanisms. These lock types vary in terms of strength and ease of use, making some more robust at the cost of being more confusing to use. Buying a safe today likely means using one of the following locking mechanisms:

Combination Dials

These are probably the most ‘old school’ options on the market. Combination dials have been in use in safes for decades. They provide you with the dial that you twist, turning the dial until you hit the right combination of numbers. Anyone who wishes to enter your safe needs to know both the code and the direction to turn the dial. A failure to get the code in the correct order means failure.

Combination dials are a great choice as they are very easy to use for the owner of the safe. They are also very hard to crack. Unless you happen to leave the combination lying around, a criminal has to resort to guessing games to break into the safe. While some very talented criminals know how to do that, the number of criminals who can correctly break through a combination dial is increasingly small.

Combination locks are incredibly valuable due to how consistent they are. So long as you memorise the code, you should have no worries about a safe locked with a combination dial being broken into. Ease of use and practicality are the two main reasons why combination dials remain such a popular choice in the UK. While they are not impervious to breakthrough, they are considered highly robust.

Lock & Key

Before we move on to more modern and advanced methods, using a standard lock and key remains a common choice. Most locksmiths would recommend that if you go down the lock and key route, you also have a secondary factor for entry. Keys are the easiest method to use to get a safe open, but they are arguably the most vulnerable. You have no codes to remember; you just need the key.

While that makes getting into the safe easy for you, it also makes it easy to get into the safe for other people. All they need to do is find the key and use it when you are not present to stop them. While the most affordable and easy-to-use options, lock and key security for safes, come with the most risk of being broken into. However, with no electronic functions, there is no risk of the safe being unopenable due to a power cut or technical failure.

On the flipside, though, if the key is lost or stolen, the entire process is compromised. Key locks can also fail due to the key snapping, the lock wearing out, or something getting stuck inside the keyhole. Generally, you trade security for ease of use if you choose to use a standard lock and key system.

Smart Locks

Moving into the more technologically advanced options, many locksmiths recommend smart locks. Not only are these increasingly easy to use, but they offer the most varied range of benefits of any options we can recommend. Electronic locks are exceptionally versatile, for one. You do not have to use just one entry method; you have many options. For example, you could use various access methods such as:

• PIN code entry, entering an X-digit code into an access terminal

• Smartphone access, opening/closing the safe using a companion app

• Keycard/fob access, though rare, is increasingly popular for ease of use

There are, of course, many benefits to having electronic locks fitted onto your safe. For one, there is no keyhole to unpick. Yes, there is always the risk that someone gets hold of your smartphone or learns the PIN code. Unlike with keys, though, you can quickly prevent access via these codes/apps and reinstate access when the phone is recovered or a locksmith has reset the PIN codes.

Electronic locks are highly versatile in that you can access them from afar, too. If someone in your workplace needs access to the safe, for example, you can remotely manage the safe even if you are not in the office. There is also no need for physical access keys to be carried out, limiting the risk of a key being lost or stolen in the first place. 

You can also pair up smart locks with other technology, such as motion sensors and CCTV systems. That means if anyone gets within proximity of the safe without permission, you can initiate automated lockdown protocols.

Biometric Locks

Your last option for locking up your safe – and easily the most durable – is biometric scanners. Yes, even the best electronic/smart locks can be intercepted if someone gets their hands on the codes. If that happens, you are still at risk of the safe being broken into. While things like notifications for entry alerts mean you can intercept the criminal before they break into the safe, biometrics are safer still.

With biometrics, you would need to be dealing with a truly elite burglar to have them know how to clone your retina or fingerprint scans. Biometrics are far more advanced and provide you with the deepest level of protection for your locks. As you might expect, though, biometric locks are easily the most expensive option on the market. For the price, though, you get the highest level of protection.

If you are protecting something of genuinely high value or something you simply cannot risk being stolen, go for biometrics. The ease of access when you have the right biometric credentials negates any confusion. Simply have your fingerprint, thumbprint and/or retina in the biometric system, and it takes seconds to enter your safe. For anyone without those credentials, entry is nigh-impossible!

With unerring accuracy and the same detection and notification features as smart locks, biometric locks are the best overall option. If your budget stretches to biometrics, we recommend you go for it!

Making The Right Decision On Safe Locking Systems

From the standard options like lock & key or combination dials to smart locks powered by access control and/or biometrics, your options are by no means varied. Finding the best choice for your own needs is not always easy, though. That is why we highly recommend you contact a locksmith to help you decide. With their experience, you can make an informed decision on what is right for you.

A locksmith can break down the financial costs of each system, as well as additional considerations. That includes lock size, lock placement, and maintenance of the safe for long-term security. They can also run through other requirements, such as power needs and security preparations, to reduce risks.

All four options provide valid choices for securing your lock. Every circumstance is different, too. That is why, if you are uncertain, it would be wise to contact a locksmith and see what they can suggest!