What to Do When You Are Locked Out of Your Safe?

Have you ever been in a situation where your safe will not open?

You should gather as much information as you can in case of a safe lockout.

Don’t hesitate to call a professional locksmith or safe technician for assistance.

However, if you’re locked out of your safe, here is what you have to do.

Determine Your Safe’s Type and Manufacturer

Knowing what type and Manufacturer of safe you have is awfully important to the success of your next step.

If you want to open it yourself, you need to know the brand.

Look for the safe’s name.

There should be a logo on the front door.

But sometimes, the logo does not include the manufacturer’s name.

Instead, it will only have some design or illustration.

If there is no brand name, ask for any purchase information.

If you cannot find this, look at the safe size and type of construction.

If nothing helps, don’t hesitate to call a safe locksmith.

They will diagnose the problem and unlock your safe.

Why Were You Locked Out?

First off, you need to discover the exact nature of a secure lock.

A professional can tell you the reason why it won’t open.

But, if you want to uncover the cause of the problem, you may just resolve the issue.

For example, if the safe’s key breaks in the keyhole, you should extract it.

Get a key replacement and check if the safe opens.

If it’s an electronic lock and the battery is dead, you can not open it.

Maybe you forgot the combination code of the safe.

If you did, check the owner’s manual for a reset code.

Move the lever and check the door screws.

What If Your Safe Is Bouncing?

If your safe has a digital code entry, many things could go wrong.

The electronic mechanism could fail; you forgot your code, or someone changed it without your knowledge.

If that happens, here’s what you can do.

Bouncing is the technique to crack the safe.

It’s pretty simple, but you need the practice to succeed.

Simply tap the top vault while simultaneously turning the lever to bounce a safe.

This process is similar to the kick button.

You should open the safe if you turn the knob when you bounce the safe.

This is an amateur entry method that involves a lot of practice.

Nevertheless, if it fails to open, your safe could be well made.

If the timing is right and you are successful, the deadbolts will recede and you can open the safe.

Lock Overrides

Lock Overrides a lockpicking technique by unlatching the locking mechanism without manipulating the lock.

It is used in combination locks because there’s no keyhole to get to the locking mechanism.

If your safe is like the ones you see in hotels, there is a bypass procedure.

This design is to reset their combinations.

There should be a standard factory reset code you can use.

One of the standard combinations is the repetition of zeros with variables.

But, these are often repetitive numbers as the standard length of the safe combination.

If all else fails, check the exact model number.

Take note that it is possible to change the code to fix your device.

In addition to pre-installed code-based upgrades, holes below the safe are not secured.

When turned over, there is a switch that you can reset.

This approach is a little tricky without a borescope.

Remember, if the battery is low, it will never work either.

Manipulation

Safe manipulation is the technique of unlocking the safe without using a key.

Experts do this by holding and spinning the dial, then turning the lock with bare hands and a little finesse.

This manipulation is more about natural talent than knowledge and practice.

Believe me, you wouldn’t want to do this unless you have previous training.

No worries because a locksmith can find other ways to unlock it.

For example, manual combination locks are locking mechanisms that they can manipulate without damaging the device.

But sometimes, this technique is never enough.

These will damage the safe, but not in a way that requires replacing the device.

In many cases that require more severe techniques, you will need to drill a hole.

Then, insert the tools and the probes to maneuver the screws or the security door’s locking mechanism.

Violent Entry

If you need immediate access to your safe, you won’t settle for subtle options.

In any case, you need a forced entry.

However, once you unlock the safe, discontinue using your safe.

You mustn’t try any violent entry on your own.

While these may seem pretty basic, using tools you’re not familiar with can be dangerous.

If you can’t unlock your safe and use violent entry can get a severe injury.

Leave this job to professional locksmiths.

The Bottom Line

The tips on this page will help you decide what to do when caught in this situation.

In fact, you can try one of the techniques above or call a professional locksmith to help you.

If your safe will not open, call for help.