Bought a Sturdy Safe -

[Hermie]

I bought and installed a Sturdy brand safe. Very happy with it.
I did a lot of research over the last year, read many forums etc.
I wanted to get a safe for some time but it was easy to let slide when
money was needed for other things.

Then at the end of November some scumbag broke into the house through a back window.
(Pretty sure it was connected to the people who were in the house previously
doing some ceiling work. Never a problem here for the nine years we've been here, but four
weeks after these guys were there we get hit. Police said it's very common after repair
work is done to have problems, so screen who you hire.)

So I got the Sturdy safe; Heavy gauge steel construction, full welds... waaa-aaay stronger than
many safes being marketed that look nice but are easily broken into. I am totally happy with it.
And the price is very good for all the security they are providing.
The people at Sturdy were really easy to deal with, clear on instructions etc.
Also the shippers they used were great.
Guy brought it right in to where I wanted it.
If you are considering a safe definitely check into Sturdy Safes.
Lots of information on their website. http://www.sturdysafe.com/

[mamboni]

Congrats! A wise investment. I have a large floor to ceiling safe and a large gun safe. You do need layered security though because given time any safe can be cracked. A remotely monitored home alarm system and lots of dogs helps. Also, I tell no one outside the family about the existence of the safes. When there are workers in the house, if they must venture into the utility room, I cover the safes.

[gunDriller]

I wanted to get a safe for some time but it was easy to let slide when
money was needed for other things.

Then at the end of November some scumbag broke into the house through a back window.

(Pretty sure it was connected to the people who were in the house previously
doing some ceiling work. Never a problem here for the nine years we've been here, but four
weeks after these guys were there we get hit. Police said it's very common after repair
work is done to have problems, so screen who you hire.)


that's one of the main reasons i try to do most of my own home repair work.


i also got a chance to test my door security. an old back door lock gave up the ghost, leaving me locked outside a few months ago.

i got a piece of tree and did the battering ram thing. i'd always wanted to try that. cheaper than calling a locksmith, i figured.

it splintered the door, near the mid-section, around the knob below the deadbolt.

i'd been thinking "i better fix it, i only got one lock" ... so i fixed it yesterday. used some bearing plates (like a large fender washer, about 3 x 3 inches), one above & one below the door knob that got hammered, and 2 carriage bolts, to pull the door back together.

that was to close up the air gap where the splintering is. i had a door-knob already keyed from a prototype door i made, so i installed that. made sure another door was unlocked, & tested the new set up, door knob and dead bolt, 3 times.

now i better not lock myself out - or i WILL have to call a locksmith !


as far as the break-in - hope you didn't lose anything important. it makes me wonder if there's any merit to wearing a hidden camera with a good mic and making it a point to visit the guys who did the ceiling work, and tell them about the break-in - see their reaction.

i installed bars on my windows to slow down a burglar.

i think you can't do enough along those lines. if anyone is Estupido enough to try breaking into your house - they at least deserve a face-full of Eau de Roadkill Skunk ... maybe with a little poison oak juice mixed in :)