Choosing Safe for Apartment

[mtwistercapitalist]

Hi Boggleheads,

I'm about to move into my first ever apartment and need to buy a safe in the near future to store some small-sized valuables and important documents (passports, etc).

I understand that ideally one would buy a humongous safe and bolt it to the floor of a residence but this would not be the case in the apartment complex for two reasons:

• Bolting a safe physically into a rented unit's floor is physically and legally a no-no

• I don't anticipate myself staying permanently in the city that I am moving into -- and would need to relocate. When that day comes, I'll have a sedan or another car into which I'd throw everything and drive to the new location. I would want the safe I buy to be transportable

My goals for the safe are as follows:

• Portable and can be put into the back of a car for future relocations (yes, I know, it also means it's easier for thieves to just pick it up and run away with it)

• Fire resistant and water-resistant. Don't want the documents to get damaged

• Medium-sized. I wouldn't want it to be the size of those small lockboxes that you see in hotel rooms for small items like jewelry and etc. Would ideally like for it to have some room for any new items that may need to be put into it

Any ideas/reactions/leads regarding what safe/lockbox to buy for this set of circumstances? Thanks in advance!

[Mike Scott]

Maybe look at highly rated small fire and water resistant file cabinets. It sounds like locks/security are secondary priorities. There are also soft bags that are highly rated for fire and water resistance and are more portable.

[popoki]

Consider a locking file cabinet. You could put important stuff in a fireproof document bag inside the cabinet. Nobody would steal a file cabinet.

[quantAndHold]

Is it stuff you really need immediate access to? For small things in an apartment, a safe deposit box might make more sense.

[lthenderson]

For me, I just evaluated all the things that I thought I needed to put in a safe. For those things truly irreplaceable, I rent a lock box at a brick and mortar bank. For everything else, I have a small fire/water resistant safe that resides in a storage room behind lots of other things that isn't bolted to anything. I hope only to deter the thief in a hurry. Everything in it is replaceable with time, effort and a small amount of money so if a determined thief takes it, it isn't a life stopper.

[JBSjr]

Check out Amazon they have decent safes for your purpose for under $200.

[windaar]

Being in an apartment makes it tough. A safe will just make it convenient for the bad guys to conveniently take all of your good stuff in one trip because you'll never be able to secure it as you could in your own home. A locking file cabinet can be broken into almost instantly. I think it is more a mattter of hiding. Most thieves breaking into an apt are going to grab and go and not do a deep search. Put small valuables in a ziplock in the bottom of the cat food bag or in a jar of peanut butter. Docs in a fireproof bag in the arm of a coat. Or maybe this is a case worthy of a safe deposit box.

[Augustivus]

I'm not sure if it's possible for where you are and what you want to store, but perhaps a good fire box that is easily/well hidden?

[UM70]

Honeywell makes sturdy boxes. You can get one that's an oversize briefcase (18" x 16" x 8") and one that's good for letter size files (12" x 16" x 14"). Both are easily 50+ lbs.

[mtwistercapitalist]

Honeywell makes sturdy boxes. You can get one that's an oversize briefcase (18" x 16" x 8") and one that's good for letter size files (12" x 16" x 14"). Both are easily 50+ lbs.

You mean something like this?: https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Safes- ... ast_sto_dp

Have you used such a Honeywell box yourself previously? If so, can you tell me more about your experience? Did you also use it in an apartment setting?

[mtwistercapitalist]

Check out Amazon they have decent safes for your purpose for under $200.

Did you use such a safe yourself? If so, what was your experience like?

[MadHungarian]

Honeywell makes sturdy boxes. You can get one that's an oversize briefcase (18" x 16" x 8") and one that's good for letter size files (12" x 16" x 14"). Both are easily 50+ lbs.

You mean something like this?: https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Safes- ... ast_sto_dp

Have you used such a Honeywell box yourself previously? If so, can you tell me more about your experience? Did you also use it in an apartment setting?

Well i can tell you that they can be opened in about 2 seconds with a small pry bar. At least that's how long it took me to open mine after i had lost the keys.
That doesn't mean it's bad. It just means you have to understand the unavoidable limits of this sort of small firebox. Limited fire protection, no burglar protection. But within your location and weight limits, you probably can't do much better with the firebox approach.

[MadHungarian]

It's a quandary. Yes you can hide things discretely in an apartment, but then you have no fire protection.
If you want fire protection, now you have a box that's big enough that burglars will find it pretty quickly. But you can't install a box that's heavy enough & secure enough to defeat the burglars.
So it seems to me that in this setting you can target either fire or burglars but not both.

Maybe the valuables get hidden in the inconspicuous spots, and then the fire-sensitive-but-non-burglar-interesting documents go in the firebox that has the keys in the lock so that the burglars can quickly open it and see that there's nothing of interest in there for them?
But I'm not familiar with the mindset & habits of burglars!

[UM70]

Honeywell makes sturdy boxes. You can get one that's an oversize briefcase (18" x 16" x 8") and one that's good for letter size files (12" x 16" x 14"). Both are easily 50+ lbs.

You mean something like this?: https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Safes- ... ast_sto_dp

Have you used such a Honeywell box yourself previously? If so, can you tell me more about your experience? Did you also use it in an apartment setting?

Yes, I have used both boxes for a little over four years. My focus is on avoiding a loss from fire or water damage (three years in apartment/townhome rentals and now one year in my own single family home).

Two moves with no problem but was using professional movers. They had no trouble picking them up one at a time and carrying them around.

Thankfully, no first-hand experience with fires, floods, break-ins or lost keys.

Personally, as far as security from criminals goes, I think if an intruder has gotten to the point where they have hands on your boxes the true problem is your perimeter security system was poor to begin with, i.e., your deterrence and detection methods were not well-planned.

[Sandtrap]

Hi Boggleheads,

I'm about to move into my first ever apartment and need to buy a safe in the near future to store some small-sized valuables and important documents (passports, etc).

I understand that ideally one would buy a humongous safe and bolt it to the floor of a residence but this would not be the case in the apartment complex for two reasons:

• Bolting a safe physically into a rented unit's floor is physically and legally a no-no

• I don't anticipate myself staying permanently in the city that I am moving into -- and would need to relocate. When that day comes, I'll have a sedan or another car into which I'd throw everything and drive to the new location. I would want the safe I buy to be transportable

My goals for the safe are as follows:

• Portable and can be put into the back of a car for future relocations (yes, I know, it also means it's easier for thieves to just pick it up and run away with it)

• Fire resistant and water-resistant. Don't want the documents to get damaged

• Medium-sized. I wouldn't want it to be the size of those small lockboxes that you see in hotel rooms for small items like jewelry and etc. Would ideally like for it to have some room for any new items that may need to be put into it

Any ideas/reactions/leads regarding what safe/lockbox to buy for this set of circumstances? Thanks in advance!

to op:
1
Will you have roomates sharing the apartment?
2
Can you put the safe in your bedroom closet behind things, luggage, clothese, etc?
3
This is not too heavy when you move but large enough to be useful.
Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Safe-Fireproof-W ... 9idGY&th=1
4
Who or what are you trying to secure things from?
Is your apartment in a high crime area?
Is your apartment in a good building with good security?
5
Think of security of physical items, or personal space, like an onion. It happens in layers.
For example: in a home, the front gate, driveway, garage, then home, and it's all about deterrents.
So, in your apartment building and apartment, etc, what?
Have other apartments had personal theft crime?
6
So, for security, look at the big picture in context.
7
Who else will have access to your apartment?
8
Will you have a popular social life with friend and peer gatherings often in your apt?
Usually, theft is from or secondary to others that already know you have a safe and where it is, or that you are worth stealing from, etc.
j

[Nowizard]

Based on a large theft, we know that a 300 pound safe can be removed from a home in less than thirty minutes. In short, if you are not wanting a larger one it might be wise to consider a bank box of whatever size would hold the items you wished to protect.

[mtwistercapitalist]

Hi Boggleheads,

I'm about to move into my first ever apartment and need to buy a safe in the near future to store some small-sized valuables and important documents (passports, etc).

I understand that ideally one would buy a humongous safe and bolt it to the floor of a residence but this would not be the case in the apartment complex for two reasons:

• Bolting a safe physically into a rented unit's floor is physically and legally a no-no

• I don't anticipate myself staying permanently in the city that I am moving into -- and would need to relocate. When that day comes, I'll have a sedan or another car into which I'd throw everything and drive to the new location. I would want the safe I buy to be transportable

My goals for the safe are as follows:

• Portable and can be put into the back of a car for future relocations (yes, I know, it also means it's easier for thieves to just pick it up and run away with it)

• Fire resistant and water-resistant. Don't want the documents to get damaged

• Medium-sized. I wouldn't want it to be the size of those small lockboxes that you see in hotel rooms for small items like jewelry and etc. Would ideally like for it to have some room for any new items that may need to be put into it

Any ideas/reactions/leads regarding what safe/lockbox to buy for this set of circumstances? Thanks in advance!

to op:
1
Will you have roomates sharing the apartment?
2
Can you put the safe in your bedroom closet behind things, luggage, clothese, etc?
3
This is not too heavy when you move but large enough to be useful.
Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Safe-Fireproof-W ... 9idGY&th=1
4
Who or what are you trying to secure things from?
Is your apartment in a high crime area?
Is your apartment in a good building with good security?
5
Think of security of physical items, or personal space, like an onion. It happens in layers.
For example: in a home, the front gate, driveway, garage, then home, and it's all about deterrents.
So, in your apartment building and apartment, etc, what?
Have other apartments had personal theft crime?
6
So, for security, look at the big picture in context.
7
Who else will have access to your apartment?
8
Will you have a popular social life with friend and peer gatherings often in your apt?
Usually, theft is from or secondary to others that already know you have a safe and where it is, or that you are worth stealing from, etc.
j

My responses are as follows:

• No roommates

• I can put the lockbox/safe in your bedroom closet behind things, luggage, clothes, etc

• That Amazon safe that you provided in the link looks about right dimensionally (and it's 50 pounds weight to boot) -- should be transportable in a car easily per my estimates

• The apartment that I'd be renting would be in a good building with low crime, bougie bars/restaurants/shops/businesses nearby. I'm just trying to ensure that nobody either snatches away certain valuables or a potential fire or water issue damages the contents on the inside. Wouldn't want the safe to be broken into easily also

• Maybe management of the apartment building complex/repairmen might have occasional access and entry to my apartment. That's it

• No popular social life. My space is my space. If I do meet people, it's not in the confines of my crib

P.S. How does this look as an idea?: Seems doable and reasonable to store stuff but not conspicuously: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/produ ... tJEALw_wcB

[mtwistercapitalist]

Based on a large theft, we know that a 300 pound safe can be removed from a home in less than thirty minutes. In short, if you are not wanting a larger one it might be wise to consider a bank box of whatever size would hold the items you wished to protect.

Oh my. 300 pounds easily snatched out of a house? That's insane!

[Sandtrap]

Hi Boggleheads,

I'm about to move into my first ever apartment and need to buy a safe in the near future to store some small-sized valuables and important documents (passports, etc).

I understand that ideally one would buy a humongous safe and bolt it to the floor of a residence but this would not be the case in the apartment complex for two reasons:

• Bolting a safe physically into a rented unit's floor is physically and legally a no-no

• I don't anticipate myself staying permanently in the city that I am moving into -- and would need to relocate. When that day comes, I'll have a sedan or another car into which I'd throw everything and drive to the new location. I would want the safe I buy to be transportable

My goals for the safe are as follows:

• Portable and can be put into the back of a car for future relocations (yes, I know, it also means it's easier for thieves to just pick it up and run away with it)

• Fire resistant and water-resistant. Don't want the documents to get damaged

• Medium-sized. I wouldn't want it to be the size of those small lockboxes that you see in hotel rooms for small items like jewelry and etc. Would ideally like for it to have some room for any new items that may need to be put into it

Any ideas/reactions/leads regarding what safe/lockbox to buy for this set of circumstances? Thanks in advance!

to op:
1
Will you have roomates sharing the apartment?
2
Can you put the safe in your bedroom closet behind things, luggage, clothese, etc?
3
This is not too heavy when you move but large enough to be useful.
Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Safe-Fireproof-W ... 9idGY&th=1
4
Who or what are you trying to secure things from?
Is your apartment in a high crime area?
Is your apartment in a good building with good security?
5
Think of security of physical items, or personal space, like an onion. It happens in layers.
For example: in a home, the front gate, driveway, garage, then home, and it's all about deterrents.
So, in your apartment building and apartment, etc, what?
Have other apartments had personal theft crime?
6
So, for security, look at the big picture in context.
7
Who else will have access to your apartment?
8
Will you have a popular social life with friend and peer gatherings often in your apt?
Usually, theft is from or secondary to others that already know you have a safe and where it is, or that you are worth stealing from, etc.
j

My responses are as follows:

• No roommates

• I can put the lockbox/safe in your bedroom closet behind things, luggage, clothes, etc

• That Amazon safe that you provided in the link looks about right dimensionally (and it's 50 pounds weight to boot) -- should be transportable in a car easily per my estimates

• The apartment that I'd be renting would be in a good building with low crime, bougie bars/restaurants/shops/businesses nearby. I'm just trying to ensure that nobody either snatches away certain valuables or a potential fire or water issue damages the contents on the inside. Wouldn't want the safe to be broken into easily also

• Maybe management of the apartment building complex/repairmen might have occasional access and entry to my apartment. That's it

• No popular social life. My space is my space. If I do meet people, it's not in the confines of my crib

P.S. How does this look as an idea?: Seems doable and reasonable to store stuff but not conspicuously: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/produ ... tJEALw_wcB

very nice drawer setup.
seems way overpriced
105 pounds is a bit heavy?
j

[mtwistercapitalist]

Hi Boggleheads,

I'm about to move into my first ever apartment and need to buy a safe in the near future to store some small-sized valuables and important documents (passports, etc).

I understand that ideally one would buy a humongous safe and bolt it to the floor of a residence but this would not be the case in the apartment complex for two reasons:

• Bolting a safe physically into a rented unit's floor is physically and legally a no-no

• I don't anticipate myself staying permanently in the city that I am moving into -- and would need to relocate. When that day comes, I'll have a sedan or another car into which I'd throw everything and drive to the new location. I would want the safe I buy to be transportable

My goals for the safe are as follows:

• Portable and can be put into the back of a car for future relocations (yes, I know, it also means it's easier for thieves to just pick it up and run away with it)

• Fire resistant and water-resistant. Don't want the documents to get damaged

• Medium-sized. I wouldn't want it to be the size of those small lockboxes that you see in hotel rooms for small items like jewelry and etc. Would ideally like for it to have some room for any new items that may need to be put into it

Any ideas/reactions/leads regarding what safe/lockbox to buy for this set of circumstances? Thanks in advance!

to op:
1
Will you have roomates sharing the apartment?
2
Can you put the safe in your bedroom closet behind things, luggage, clothese, etc?
3
This is not too heavy when you move but large enough to be useful.
Something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Safe-Fireproof-W ... 9idGY&th=1
4
Who or what are you trying to secure things from?
Is your apartment in a high crime area?
Is your apartment in a good building with good security?
5
Think of security of physical items, or personal space, like an onion. It happens in layers.
For example: in a home, the front gate, driveway, garage, then home, and it's all about deterrents.
So, in your apartment building and apartment, etc, what?
Have other apartments had personal theft crime?
6
So, for security, look at the big picture in context.
7
Who else will have access to your apartment?
8
Will you have a popular social life with friend and peer gatherings often in your apt?
Usually, theft is from or secondary to others that already know you have a safe and where it is, or that you are worth stealing from, etc.
j

My responses are as follows:

• No roommates

• I can put the lockbox/safe in your bedroom closet behind things, luggage, clothes, etc

• That Amazon safe that you provided in the link looks about right dimensionally (and it's 50 pounds weight to boot) -- should be transportable in a car easily per my estimates

• The apartment that I'd be renting would be in a good building with low crime, bougie bars/restaurants/shops/businesses nearby. I'm just trying to ensure that nobody either snatches away certain valuables or a potential fire or water issue damages the contents on the inside. Wouldn't want the safe to be broken into easily also

• Maybe management of the apartment building complex/repairmen might have occasional access and entry to my apartment. That's it

• No popular social life. My space is my space. If I do meet people, it's not in the confines of my crib

P.S. How does this look as an idea?: Seems doable and reasonable to store stuff but not conspicuously: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/produ ... tJEALw_wcB

very nice drawer setup.
seems way overpriced
105 pounds is a bit heavy?
j

Good point regarding the 105 pounds being heavy. Forgot about that

[JBSjr]

Just got one delivered from Amazon yesterday. It's 4 cubic ft for 169.00. Yes it's cheap,but it will probably suit our purpose.


Before ordering this, I found an antique safe at our church. Probably 8-10 cubic ft and weighed 100s of Pounds. We couldn't move it ourselves but contacted a local safe company. They wanted 500. Just to move it. We settled for the cheapo on Amazon.

[PeaceLily]

Safes are a tough choice with the pros and cons of movability, robustness (ease of breaking in and weight), cost, fire resistance and such. My only help is that if you are not going to bolt it to something sturdy then considering filling it with something heavy to make it harder to move without access to the key. Also remember that safes are just one part of the defense with lights, cameras, nosey neighbors on the front line.

[stan1]

We've had two for at least 20 years. No issues but then again house has never caught fire or been burglarized. One is a Sentry brand and the other is a Brinks brand. I would not over think this.

One thing to keep in mind is that the walls are thick to give the fire protection so they don't hold as much as you might think. We keep passports, original birth certificates, etc in ours but we also scan as much as we can and keep it digitally. We no longer keep paper tax returns but if we did they would not fit and we'd be buying third if not fourth box.

Can't speak to other locations, but around us safe deposit boxes at a bank are theoretical at this point. People who have them are leaving them to their heirs, and there are decade long waiting lists. As banks open up new branches they rarely offer safe deposit boxes in those locations. Maybe in other places it is possible to get one.

[zlandar]

Safes are very heavy. A medium sized safe (1.2-2 cu foot) is 85-120 pounds. You will regret buying it when it is time to move.

I would get a firebox that is waterproof. It is significantly lighter and will offer some protection. The locks on most consumer safes are laughably easy to defeat. Anyone watching LPL on Youtube can break in. I use mine mostly to protect documents not valuables that a thief would want.