Choosing the Best Burglar Safe to Keep Your Belongings Protected From Burglars
If you’re in the market for a safe, it goes without saying that you want something that provides unparalleled security at a great price. There is nothing quite so important as protecting your precious heirlooms, goods and belongings from burglary and, in the unfortunate event that your home is broken into, you deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing your belongings are secure. Fortunately, this guide will provide helpful tips on how to choose the best burglar safe for you.
Picking the Best Burglary Safe for Your Lifestyle 
Freestanding Burglar Safes
Freestanding burglar safes are the most popular type of safe on the market today thanks to the fact that they are easy to install and work well in a variety of locations. Additionally, burglar safes offer ample storage room and are available for purchase in a variety of sizes and configurations and with many customizable available features. Additionally, the safe’s components are generally easy to access and the safe can be bolted to the floor for added security. Remember, a true burglary safe has steel walls that are thick enough to last against attacks from unskilled and skilled burglars.
Don't be fooled by the safes at the big box stores which claim to be secure. They are typically fireproof safes that have thin walls and can easily be broken into in a few minutes. One of the first things to consider when purchasing a burglar safe is, how much content value you are going to be storing inside? Here is a chart which will help guide you as to which burglar rating to choose.
| Burglar Rating | With Burglar Alarm | NO Burglar Alarm |
| B-Rate | UP TO $10,000 | UP TO $5,000 |
| B/C Rate | UP TO $20,000 | UP TO $10,000 |
| UL RSC | UP TO $30,000 | UP TO $15,000 |
| C-Rate | UP TO $50,000 | UP TO $25,000 |
| UL TL-15 | UP TO $200,000 | UP TO $100,000 |
| UL TL-30 | UP TO $375,000 | UP TO $195,000 |
| UL TL-30X6 | UP TO $500,000 | UP TO $275,000 |
| UL TRTL-30X6 | UP TO $1,000,000+ | UP TO $500,000+ |
These safes do have some cons though. For starters, burglar safes can be large and may be difficult to conceal. Additionally, burglar safes are not rated for fires and will provide little or no fire protection. Make sure to look at burglar & fire safes which are rated for both burglar & fire protection if this is what you need. For people who prefer smaller or differently configured alternatives, there are plenty of other options, such as fire safes, gun safes, jewelry safes, estate safes, watch safes, vaults and custom safes to choose from.
Optimizing Your Safe for Maximum Functionality
Nearly every safe on the market offers customizable configuration options and can be equipped with jewelry cabinets with drawers, racks to hold necklaces, guns or other belongings, watch winders, DVD drawers, photo drawers, file drawers and even equipment drawers. That said, it is very easy to configure your burglary safe any way you want to and customize it for your personal needs. Before purchasing a safe, take a moment to consider what you want to store in it, how much room you will need and then base your decision of safe on which model will best accommodate those things. If you want to store files, you are probably going to purchase a different safe than someone who wants to store guns, for example.
Choosing Where to Place Your Safe
Deciding where to place your safe is nearly as important as choosing which safe to purchase in the first place. The most important consideration when it comes to your safe’s location is that it be accessible to you and hidden to potential burglars. Choose a place that is convenient enough for you to access the safe quickly and yet concealed enough to not be immediately obvious to an intruder. This does not mean that you have to go to great expense and effort to store the safe behind a concealed door or wall as that will typically reduce the availability of the safe to you, the owner, and thus defeat the purpose of having a safe in the first place. Instead, avoid overthinking the safe’s location and place it somewhere that is easy to access, like a hall closet, second bedroom closet or in a basement. If you did ever fall prey to a burglary, it is wiser to rely on the safe’s effectiveness for protection than it is to go to great extents to hide it in a difficult location.
Other Considerations
Before purchasing a burglar safe, be sure that you have adequately evaluated the different burglar ratings, size, safe types and considered all of your options. Many safe owners find one safe that fulfills all of their needs while others prefer to invest in several safes that serve different purposes. Before taking the plunge, take some time to consider the requirements you have for a safe (size, expense, configuration, etc.) and what you want it to store (files, guns, photos, jewelry, precious metals, etc.). This will go a long way toward picking out your choice of safe. A quality burglar safe is an investment that will offer you and your family years of protection for your most precious belongings.
Whether you’re the owner of precious family photos, rare coins, precious jewelry, antique firearms or simply files, watches, electronics and financial assets that you want to keep secure, a burglar safe can provide unparalleled peace of mind. By taking the time to do your homework before you commit to a safe, you can ensure that you find the perfect safe for your lifestyle and needs and that you get years of enjoyment out of your purchase. If you have any questions regarding burglary safes, please give one of our safe experts a call at 800-207-2259 today!
