It never occurred to me to use a high-security, fire-protected safe in the ten years I’ve been running a cash business. Every day, my main business generated between 2,000 and 8,000, a third of which would normally be in cash. My winnings were always placed in the same place under the counter every night. Even though I showed up at the bank every day, I should have had a safe at least to protect the cash overnight. On top of that, he had the credit card details of over two hundred customers “hidden” under the counter. Discreet floor safes are not expensive and I could have afforded one at the time. I cringe at the thought even as I write! I was not even approached by a seller of high security and fire protection safes, deposit safes or security safes of any kind. If I were starting over, security safes would be one of the first things I would have installed in my business premises. These are the reasons why!
1. Protect valuable items – Car keys, mobile phones, laptops, credit cards and wallets should be locked up overnight. They are usually left closer to the most used entrance of the house or in the kitchen. Thieves who target these valuables usually have an easy job as these items are usually left in convenient and obvious places near a front door.
2. Protect irreplaceable items – For example, sentimental jewelry, sports medals, and other items that money simply can’t buy should ideally be stored in a fire-rated safe that has all the qualities of a free-standing floor safe. Old documents, such as old and rare maps, statutes, wills, etc., must be protected if they have value or importance. Parish baptismal and marriage records are sometimes over 300 years old and are an important research tool for genealogists: they must be protected.
3. Protect important and personal documents – Documents such as property titles, leases, wills, contracts, financial statements, stock certificates, etc., are generally stored in old briefcases and are susceptible to loss due to fire, theft or simply loss. A high security fire protection safe acts as a designated place for the storage of such items where they will be safe from loss, theft or destruction. Having to remove such documents from the safe, and more importantly, return them to the safe, is a ritual, giving importance to the documents and encouraging safekeeping.
4. Protect cash – Increasingly, people are storing cash at home. They also hold physical gold and silver as a hedge against financial collapse. Hidden or underfloor safes help people take physical responsibility for their money. They are ideal for this because they present no visible temptation or opportunity for the thief.
5.Other people’s business – You may be asked to look after an important item or papers belonging to a friend or family member. Such a task can be a burden unless you have a secure place to store the item under lock and key. A high security fire safe will give you peace of mind when storing items for family, friends or clients.
5. Insurance claims handling – In the event of loss or damage, your insurers will want to know if you have a high security fire safe or safe on your premises. If you have such a safe in the first place, you may get a reduction in your insurance premium, but you are unlikely to receive compensation for lost or stolen valuables if they weren’t kept in a safe. You must assume that your goods will be stolen. You should also take the proper steps to protect your possessions if you want to insure them for their value.
