Found hidden safe, should we crack?

[IowaFarmBoy]

The suspense is killing me. Maybe we should start a bogleheads gofundme to pay for the locksmith and then I can get back to work.....

[Point]

It sounds like a lot of fun for $900 and a usable safe. What would you otherwise use the money for? Dinner, a weekend away, a fishing trip....

I'd do it!

[arcticpineapplecorp.]

now I know where those missing bitcoins got to:

Man accidentally threw away $127 million in bitcoin and officials won’t allow a search
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/20/man-los ... -look.html

Exclusive: Nearly 4 Million Bitcoins Lost Forever, New Study Says
https://fortune.com/2017/11/25/lost-bitcoins/

I remember reading about Richard Feynman's safecracking skills (and other hijinks) in his autobiography:

https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... e+cracking

[Gardener]

One of the best threads ive read on here, perhaps only second to the 'whats making that sound in my house' thread.

[Miriam2]

Certainly no experience or expertise here - but it sure seems to me that this safe could be opened without damaging it for your future use.

But what would OP put in his huuuuge concrete-embedded bomb-resistant heavy-duty steel safe??
His statements from Vanguard for his index funds?

[Miriam2]

One of the best threads ive read on here, perhaps only second to the 'whats making that sound in my house' thread.

Hmmm - it will be hard to beat Nisiprius and the Hindenburg Omen thread - Nisi saved us all from total extinction

[DesertDiva]

The suspense is killing me. Maybe we should start a bogleheads gofundme to pay for the locksmith and then I can get back to work.....

I would contribute

[cbeck]

In Richard Feynman's autobiography (Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman), he said he got a reputation at Los Alamos of being able to crack safes; in truth, he learned that the manufacturer had set the default combinations to 55-55-55, and the security teams usually neglected to change the combinations, so all he had to do was use the default and the safes usually opened.

If there is a default combination for your brand/model of safe that you can find, you should try it.

But Feynman cracked the safes by covertly observing the owner opening it without concealing the combination.

[anon_investor]

Certainly no experience or expertise here - but it sure seems to me that this safe could be opened without damaging it for your future use.

But what would OP put in his huuuuge concrete-embedded bomb-resistant heavy-duty steel safe??
His statements from Vanguard for his index funds?

Obviously another locked safe (an empty one) and leave it for the next buyer!!!

[mindgap]

Lets crowdfund opening this thing. Its like the lottery but much much more exciting

Im in.

[Gardener]

The concern about not being able to open it for a burglar is uncompelling to me. OP could just pull up this thread and show it to the burglar to prove he really did not know the code.

Risk is obviously minute, but one poster's concern about a home invasion and being unable to open it seems legit to me. Very unlikely, but if happens, likely very bad outcome.

I vote for opening it. Hopefully non-destructively so you can at least have use of it if no valuables.

One other very low probability scenario -- what if contains a non-trivial amount of illegal drugs or similar? Would you give police a heads up, or check with a lawyer before opening it?

[celia]

We recently purchased a condo, the terms of the sale were it included all contents. My wife was was poking around the guest bedroom and discovered a fairly large, hidden floor safe, set in concrete..

Gips, I just got another idea. The cost you incur to make the safe usable again can be added on to the cost basis of the property. In my opinion, that's a good reason to get this "repair" taken care of. Just be sure you save the receipt with your escrow papers.

[dru808]

Can you drill in and insert a camera?

This, Or if you can get it out, you can likely cut through the side with a grinder. Don’t waste time trying to get the door open if you diy.

[kevinf]

The concern about not being able to open it for a burglar is uncompelling to me. OP could just pull up this thread and show it to the burglar to prove he really did not know the code.

Risk is obviously minute, but one poster's concern about a home invasion and being unable to open it seems legit to me. Very unlikely, but if happens, likely very bad outcome.

I vote for opening it. Hopefully non-destructively so you can at least have use of it if no valuables.

One other very low probability scenario -- what if contains a non-trivial amount of illegal drugs or similar? Would you give police a heads up, or check with a lawyer before opening it?

Yes, hardened, violent criminals are usually so reasonable...

[TallBoy29er]

I'm in for $5 as well. Need no cut of the proceeds.

[gwe67]

Is this for real? Post a picture.

[Silverado]

Is this for real? Post a picture.

Uh, read the thread, there’s a pic.

[gwe67]

Is this for real? Post a picture.

Uh, read the thread, there’s a pic.

Ah, I see it now. I was looking for a photo, not a link to a photo.

[denovo]

The suspense is killing me.

[Silverado]

Is this for real? Post a picture.

Uh, read the thread, there’s a pic.

Ah, I see it now. I was looking for a photo, not a link to a photo.

No worries, I was trying to not be too sharp in my comment, but likely seemed snarky.

Fun thread, I hate the threat of a long delay.

[khh]

Release the crackin'!

[krb]

Release the crackin'!

Nice!

[Smoke]

I like the idea of drilling and looking, but the front plates are usually very hard steel. May take a couple of carbide drills to get through it.

I totally agree, patience with a few drill bits and then scope it.

[StevieG72]

I would open it myself. It is not difficult without a time constraint.

+1

Watch a few Youtube videos, pick up some cheap tools at Harbor Freight and give it a go!

[sunny_socal]

Is this for real? Post a picture.

Uh, read the thread, there’s a pic.

No there's not. Please point to the post at least.

[Cubicle]

No there's not. Please point to the post at least.

thanks for all the ideas! Since there's so much interest here's a photo of the safe, set in concrete:
https://postimg.cc/QK81zbKC

it's hard to tell from the photo, but the dimensions are l:12 inches, w:13 inches d: 18 inches (just guessing because of the cement). the dial is branded sargent & greenleaf

here's the retailer site:
https://www.haymansafe.com/in-floor-safes.html

I'm a retired computer scientist, so I have thought of building my own robot. To my eye, it doesn't seem like something I'd want to drill.

still mulling over next steps. Our realtor asked if there was a bad smell coming out of the safe

[OldAtHeart]

Here’s the min cost:
$150 travel to install the robot
$300 to use the robot
$150 to pick up robot
Total: $600

Max cost:
$150 travel to install the robot
$300 to use the robot
$150 to Pick up robot
$300 to crack safe
Total: $900

You said the robot has a 70% chance of success. So the
expected cost is 0.7*600 + 0.3*900 = $690.

Do you have the option of just paying $750 for them to drive out once and crack the safe and skip the robot? If so it might be an interesting option although the odds are still in favor of trying the robot.

The other benefit of the robot would be that the safe doesn’t get destroyed and could be reused. With that in mind I would pick the robot option.

[JoMoney]

Is this for real? Post a picture.

Uh, read the thread, there’s a pic.

No there's not. Please point to the post at least.

Yes there is. I'll give you a little help, you have to actually "READ" the thread not just scan for the picture or you won't find it... here's another tip that's useful in other areas of the forum - look at the OP's post history.

[zxllxz]

[1001] The ITL Robotic Safe Cracker! (ITL-2000) - YouTube

[link formatted by admin LadyGeek]

[nisiprius]

[1001] The ITL Robotic Safe Cracker! (ITL-2000) - YouTube

[link formatted by admin LadyGeek]

Thanks so much. That's very interesting to watch. It obviously (?) isn't dialing all three digits every time, so it must use something about the way the internal disks catch on each other to allow it to try certain combinations of the last couple of digits over and over again without entering the first ones.

I can't quite see what interval it is trying between numbers but seems to be more than one. That is, it is relying on there being some slop or tolerance for not being precisely on the nominal numbers in the combination.

Does anyone else think that the noises it makes sound like "open the vegetables, open the vegetables, open the vegetables?"

[livesoft]

I can't quite see what interval it is trying between numbers but seems to be more than one. That is, it is relying on there being some slop or tolerance for not being precisely on the nominal numbers in the combination.

youtube settings allow one to play the video at 0.25 speed, so one can see the interval used (see the digital display). I suspect that for this video, he set the device to use an interval larger than one only for demonstration purposes. It might be hard to know what tolerance or slop was acceptable.

And not explained is the "clunk" and why he moved the dial manually at the end to turn the lever. Does the device stop when it detects the "clunk"? I had a little safe when I was kid and one had to try the handle to know the combination was correct.

[JoMoney]

...And not explained is the "clunk" and why he moved the dial CCW to turn the lever...

Some models of S&G locks require spinning the dial right back to zero before attempting to open, it's on that final turning right that the locks mechanism actually "clunks" and catches the mechanism to open the lock... its more secure than the locks that might "clunk" or something similar while spinning left to find the last number.
In the video the robot spins it part of the way and gets the "clunk" but he manually turns it all the way back to zero (actually a little past).

[tuningfork]

[1001] The ITL Robotic Safe Cracker! (ITL-2000) - YouTube

[link formatted by admin LadyGeek]

Slightly disappointed. I was hoping to see Marvin, the robot from HHGTTG, crack the lock, all the while complaining about being commanded to do such a lowly task.

[Nestegg_User]

[1001] The ITL Robotic Safe Cracker! (ITL-2000) - YouTube

[link formatted by admin LadyGeek]

Thanks so much. That's very interesting to watch. It obviously (?) isn't dialing all three digits every time, so it must use something about the way the internal disks catch on each other to allow it to try certain combinations of the last couple of digits over and over again without entering the first ones.

I can't quite see what interval it is trying between numbers but seems to be more than one. That is, it is relying on there being some slop or tolerance for not being precisely on the nominal numbers in the combination.

Does anyone else think that the noises it makes sound like "open the vegetables, open the vegetables, open the vegetables?"

actually I think it was "calling all vegetables" ( a subtle insinuation about the owner?)

...and if it was Marvin from Hitchhikers all we would hear is a lot of droning

[Quirkz]

Maybe a bunch of bogleheads will kick in just to find out what's in the safe. I know I'd send $5

I won't send money, but if I'm in the area I'd gladly donate 10 minutes of my time to try 25 different combinations. Recruit enough of us, and you'll get it cracked ... eventually.

[sunny_socal]

No there's not. Please point to the post at least.

thanks for all the ideas! Since there's so much interest here's a photo of the safe, set in concrete:
https://postimg.cc/QK81zbKC

it's hard to tell from the photo, but the dimensions are l:12 inches, w:13 inches d: 18 inches (just guessing because of the cement). the dial is branded sargent & greenleaf

here's the retailer site:
https://www.haymansafe.com/in-floor-safes.html

I'm a retired computer scientist, so I have thought of building my own robot. To my eye, it doesn't seem like something I'd want to drill.

still mulling over next steps. Our realtor asked if there was a bad smell coming out of the safe

Thanks! And thanks for not being snotty

Pic for everyone to see (it's not that hard to post)

[Saving$]

No there's not. Please point to the post at least.

thanks for all the ideas! Since there's so much interest here's a photo of the safe, set in concrete:
https://postimg.cc/QK81zbKC

it's hard to tell from the photo, but the dimensions are l:12 inches, w:13 inches d: 18 inches (just guessing because of the cement). the dial is branded sargent & greenleaf

here's the retailer site:
https://www.haymansafe.com/in-floor-safes.html

I'm a retired computer scientist, so I have thought of building my own robot. To my eye, it doesn't seem like something I'd want to drill.

still mulling over next steps. Our realtor asked if there was a bad smell coming out of the safe

Thanks! And thanks for not being snotty

Pic for everyone to see (it's not that hard to post)

The product data indicates that the body of the safe below the concrete:
a. May be poly (plastic)
b. May have a larger footprint than the safe door, meaning the poly body of the safe is about 3-4" below the surface of the concrete.
If you own a hammerdrill, I would buy a few cheap 1/2" masonry / concrete bits and try to drill into the side of the safe, and get a $15 Amazon camera and fish that into the safe. Depending on what you see you can decide if you want to pay to have the safe cracked.

[kacang]

Does anyone know how much it costs to install a floor safe such as this? If more than the cost of opening & preserving it, you could think of it as getting a nice floor safe for free.

[sunny_socal]

Does anyone know how much it costs to install a floor safe such as this? If more than the cost of opening & preserving it, you could think of it as getting a nice floor safe for free.

Essentially free if done when the slab is poured. Can't be more than a couple hundred bucks even if done later. It's just a hole in the floor.

[likegarden]

I did not read all the postings. But when this is only a nuisance to you then 1. drill and insert camera to know if something worth is in it. Then 2. buy a bag of concrete at HD, mix it and fill on top of the door, smooth surface and you are done for less than $100. A hammer drill does not cost much.

[Ziko]

Take your proof of ownership to a notary republic. prove you own the house/condo and all contents. send a copy to the safe company with the s/n of the safe and they will verify the information and send you the combination.

[dm200]

I don't think we have heard from any experienced experts in cracking a safe - without damaging it.

Perhaps convicted felons do not tend to be Bogleheads? Neither, perhaps, are felons who have not yet been caught?

[wfrobinette]

I recently watched an HGTV show where a couple bought a bank and converted it to their home. They left the safety deposit boxes which were locked when they bought the bank. They open a dozen every year and have discovered all kinds of treasures.

I vote on having it opened.

I remember wasting several hours watching Geraldo open "Al Capone's" safe.

LOL I remember watching that too. I forgot what he said he would do if they found nothing.

Me too. I was 14 or 15 at the time.

[doss]

Take your proof of ownership to a notary republic. prove you own the house/condo and all contents. send a copy to the safe company with the s/n of the safe and they will verify the information and send you the combination.

I bought a house that had a locked tuff shed in the back yard. No idea where key was. I went to local vendor and had to show contract. He gave me new key. Alas, shed just contained a nice car bike rack.

[wilshuer]

This thread has intrigued me from the start, waiting to see what’s inside.

Taking the picture and looking up the potential model, I noticed some of their floor safes that have the same looking door indicate a false floor. Perhaps a word of caution if you only stick a camera inside.

[michaeljc70]

I would probably blow the money to have it opened out of curiosity. On the one hand, it is unlikely anyone would move and not take the contents with them. On the other hand, if someone died and no one in the family had the combination or even knew about the safe.....

[wilked]

I would probably blow the money to have it opened out of curiosity. On the one hand, it is unlikely anyone would move and not take the contents with them. On the other hand, if someone died and no one in the family had the combination or even knew about the safe.....

Should only cost < $100 (half for the drill bits and half for the boroscope) to figure out if the safe needs to be opened. I wouldn't spend any serious money until that point

[Nearly A Moose]

One of the best threads ive read on here, perhaps only second to the 'whats making that sound in my house' thread.

They’re neck and neck...

[Nearly A Moose]

gonna be a long winter if we have to wait until Spring for an update!!! If it were my place, I’d try to have this non destructively opened, especially if I’m renting the place over the winter. Might be nice to be able to safely stash a few things there.

Or perhaps you could try drilling in through the concrete to see if the safe really is larger than the door and has a plastic body, as someone suggested, do the boroscope thing, and have the concrete repaired if you eventually want to have the safe in a useful condition again?

[ElJefeDelQueso]

No there's not. Please point to the post at least.

thanks for all the ideas! Since there's so much interest here's a photo of the safe, set in concrete:
https://postimg.cc/QK81zbKC

it's hard to tell from the photo, but the dimensions are l:12 inches, w:13 inches d: 18 inches (just guessing because of the cement). the dial is branded sargent & greenleaf

here's the retailer site:
https://www.haymansafe.com/in-floor-safes.html

I'm a retired computer scientist, so I have thought of building my own robot. To my eye, it doesn't seem like something I'd want to drill.

still mulling over next steps. Our realtor asked if there was a bad smell coming out of the safe

Thanks! And thanks for not being snotty

Pic for everyone to see (it's not that hard to post)

https://www.haymansafe.com/contact.html