Our homes are often where we keep our most valuable possessions, whether it’s jewellery, cash, heirlooms or important documents. What’s more, increasingly affordable and accessible technology means most homes also contain expensive electronic equipment such as TVs, games consoles and computers.
Unfortunately, this makes homes a target for thieves and in 2022 alone, there were over 400,000 offenses relating to domestic burglary recorded. Businesses are also targeted by theft, with 9% of businesses across the UK being victims to burglary in 2022.
Safes are one of the many security measures that homes and businesses can use to protect their valuables. Should thieves gain access to a premises, a secure safe can protect valuables and deter most burglary attempts. In high security environments, safes with additional security can be used to prevent entry even with specialist equipment.
However, like any equipment, safes have a lifespan and there will come a time when safes should be upgraded to ensure they continue to protect your assets. Our latest blog post explores 5 signs it could be time to upgrade your safe
Outdated Locking Mechanism
Whilst safes are not upgradable in terms of their intrinsic quality, new and more secure locking mechanisms can often be retrofitted to existing safes. If your safe locking mechanism is showing signs of wear, it might be time to consider upgrading to an electronic locking system.
In recent years, the advancements in locking technology mean that a range of options are available that offer convenience as well as high security.
Particularly in business settings, using a safe with a traditional key locking mechanism can leave you vulnerable to internal theft as the key could be stolen or copied. In these environments, a digital lock provides peace of mind and the combination can be changed as frequently as required.
At Thornhill Security, we offer a range of locking options for safes including digital locks which utilise a combination instead of a key, mechanical locks and on some modern safes, biometric locking is also an option; this advanced locking mechanism uses your unique fingerprint to unlock the safe.
Insurance Coverage Concerns
Insurance companies regularly update their coverage requirements to meet changing security standards. If you use insurance for your home or business assets, it’s critical that you keep up to date with the insurance standards to ensure that you are covered in the result of theft.
Safes in the UK will have a stated ‘cash rating’ which indicates the value of cash and items that can be stored in the safe, with the value of assets being up to 10x the cash rating.
For example, our Bristol Range Grade 3 Safe has a cash rating of £35,000, meaning it can be used to store either £35,000 in cash or items with a value of up to £350,000.
Furthermore, some insurers will have strict requirements about the quality of the safe and will require it to be AiS approved, ECB.S Certified or manufactured to current European Standards. This means that some safes available online will not be suitable to meet insurance requirements.
If your current safe isn’t meeting your insurance requirements, our expert team can help to recommend the optimum safe for you based on the items you are storing and your current insurance.
Visible Signs of Wear
Safes, like any other mechanical device, undergo wear and tear over time and whilst safes can operate efficiently for years, it’s important to monitor signs of wear which could indicate it’s time for an upgrade.
Excessive wear on vital parts of the safe such as the hinges or bolt work can compromise the security of your safe. Furthermore, worn components pose safety risks, such as doors falling unexpectedly or causing strain injuries due to stiffness.
In many cases, safes showing signs of extensive wear cannot be repaired. However, in some cases it’s possible to upgrade the locking mechanism if this is the component which is failing.
At Thornhill Security, our expert team can inspect your safe to ascertain whether a repair can be safely carried out without compromising the quality of the safe, or if a new safe is required.
Changing Security Needs
If you’ve had a safe in your home or business for years, your security needs have likely changed since it was purchased.
Whether you are storing items of a higher value, require more space in your safe or have taken out a new insurance policy, these can all be contributing factors to why your safe no longer meets your security needs.
If your safe is no longer meeting your needs, our expert team can review your requirements and recommend safes that meet your needs and budget.
Technological Advancements
Security technology is constantly evolving and safes are no exception. Whilst traditional safes are still secure, technological advancements have allowed for additional security measures and features.
Upgrading your safe allows you to take advantage of these advancements, ensuring that your safe offers the highest possible level of security whilst also giving you maximum convenience.
At Thornhill Security, we stock a range of secure safes with technological options such as biometric locking systems.
Talk to the Experts
Is your safe still meeting your needs? If you think you could be due an upgrade, contact the Thornhill Security team today.
Our expert team will inspect your existing safe and provide recommendations based on your needs and budget. We can help with every stage of the process including removal of your old safe.
To get started, give our team a call today on 0117 964 4994 or fill out a contact form and we will get back to you.
