Safecracking

[earthwerks]

I'm a contractor working in Mississppi cleaning up the Hurricane Katrina mess. My client has a large Rosengrens brand safe that was recovered by the Army Corp and returned to her. She was on the beach which sustained winds of 150 mph and saw 25 feet of water surge. The safe was missing the dial and sustained damage to the key lock area, and the handle is missing.

She asked to open it as I was able to open two smaller ones like you'd see in a small business or home office using the grapple bucket attachment I have on my bobcat---used it like a can opener--works well!

This one is about 3-4,000 lb. stands about 5' tall and 30" wide. I cut the hinge pins, but the door won't move more than about 3/4" on the hinge side, and none at the other side. Any idea what it will take to open this. She wants me to truck it to Alabama to a safe opener.

The web site for Rosengrens doesn't show the mechanism or "pins" that may be holding the door closed. Any ideas?

[Thorn]

Re: Safecracking

Moved from "(Eric Schmiedl) Safecracking Without a Trace"

Please pay attention to where you are posting next time. Even if the topic is the same, the "Speakers/Presentations: notes, comments?" is for discussions about those presentations, not technical help.

[Gobniu]

Re: Safecracking

Depending on the contents and rating of the safe and your contractor status you might try a small amount of explosives. if the safe has a "TX" in the rating then it is explosives rated. don't know if this helps but thought I'd give it a try.

P.S. - most safes have pins on the top and bottom of the door as well as both sides to prevent someone from just cutting off the hinge.

[theprez98]

Re: (Eric Schmiedl) Safecracking Without a Trace

I'm a contractor working in Mississppi cleaning up the Hurricane Katrina mess. My client has a large Rosengrens brand safe that was recovered by the Army Corp and returned to her. She was on the beach which sustained winds of 150 mph and saw 25 feet of water surge. The safe was missing the dial and sustained damage to the key lock area, and the handle is missing.

She asked to open it as I was able to open two smaller ones like you'd see in a small business or home office using the grapple bucket attachment I have on my bobcat---used it like a can opener--works well!

This one is about 3-4,000 lb. stands about 5' tall and 30" wide. I cut the hinge pins, but the door won't move more than about 3/4" on the hinge side, and none at the other side. Any idea what it will take to open this. She wants me to truck it to Alabama to a safe opener.

The web site for Rosengrens doesn't show the mechanism or "pins" that may be holding the door closed. Any ideas?

How about contacting the manufacturer?

[erehwon]

Re: (Eric Schmiedl) Safecracking Without a Trace

I'm a contractor working in Mississppi cleaning up the Hurricane Katrina mess. My client has a large Rosengrens brand safe that was recovered by the Army Corp and returned to her. She was on the beach which sustained winds of 150 mph and saw 25 feet of water surge. The safe was missing the dial and sustained damage to the key lock area, and the handle is missing.

She asked to open it as I was able to open two smaller ones like you'd see in a small business or home office using the grapple bucket attachment I have on my bobcat---used it like a can opener--works well!

This one is about 3-4,000 lb. stands about 5' tall and 30" wide. I cut the hinge pins, but the door won't move more than about 3/4" on the hinge side, and none at the other side. Any idea what it will take to open this. She wants me to truck it to Alabama to a safe opener.

My best recommendation would be to give Joe Fuller Sr. at Fuller's Alamo Safe and Lock a call, (210) 344-4523, With all the locksmiths in Chicago, I would without hesitation fly Joe here for a project like that.

[renderman]

Re: Safecracking

Most likely your efforts to cut the hinge pins did nothingg due to the fact there are 4 1" - 1.5" bolts portrudint into the housing of the safe from the door. There's a reason it's not that easy and they are called 'safes'.

As for opening it yourself, not recommended. You could try cutting your way in, but there's a chance you might damage the contents and it will probobly end up taking quite a while.

Your best bet is to truck it out to Alabama (contact the manufacturer and find out if they have a reseller or someone they can recommend there) and have a professional open it. They will have the drill points and the proper tools. It will still take them a while, but it will be alot easier on everyone.