And because private security is becoming more important, stronger safes are being developed.
In the early 20th century, safes underwent tests to determine their fire-protective properties. Now, you can now purchase a fireproof safe for your most important belongings.
Safes have indeed improved the safety of residential properties. What’s more, they have also made a huge historical impact.
In fact, many safes have been part of interesting events in recent history. We take a look at three of the most memorable below.
The Hidden Safe with Priceless Contents in Tennessee
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| Photo Credit: Imgur |
He also shared that his grandparents were fond of collecting everything from firearms to antique coins. Just the year before the discovery, he found what remained of his grandfather’s pistol collection.
When the locksmith he contacted finally cracked the safe open, it revealed heaps of old money, pocket watches, rare collectible coins and jewellery. Although there was a pipe leak a few years back, the antiques were still in mint condition because they had casings.
The story garnered significant attention online, as Reddit users helped appraise and preserve the value of the uncovered antiques and curiosities.
The Mysterious Safe That Was Believed to Be Linked to a Tragic Incident
On the 27th of 1968, Richard Chartrand was killed by a bomb after it exploded under the vehicle he was driving. He was the owner of Barney’s Casino in Lake Tahoe, California. Despite the considerable number of evidence recovered from the crime scene, the incident remained unsolved.
More than four decades later, Mike Laub, the lawyer who owns the property decided to turn the site into a mall. However, the demolition stopped in August 2011 when they found a black safe which had been hidden underneath a staircase.
Because of the safe’s suspicious location, it was concluded that its owner was Chartrand. The whole ordeal immediately became a sensation; producers from the Oprah Winfrey Network offered to provide a locksmith to crack the safe open and they gained exclusive access to the opening. Unfortunately, when it was opened on the 14th of September 2011 in the presence of the county’s Sherriff, it did not show anything relevant to the crime.
The 108-Year-Old Safe that Contained a School’s History
Because its combination was unknown, a century-old safe remained hidden and unopened in the basement of Johnson and Wales University in Denver. But when a locksmith went to the abandoned building in May 2014 and tried to open it, local media outlets followed the story.
Little was known about the safe itself, but its lock was apparently made in 1908. There had been much speculation as to its contents, with students and school administrators coming up with all sorts of theories.
The locksmith drilled a hole into the lock’s body to break it. A fibre optic scope was then inserted to check if there was anything hazardous hidden inside. When it was finally opened, they saw a treasure trove of history – from old grade books to old yearbooks.
With the safe open, the building can now be renovated and used by the institution. As for the contents of the safe, they have been catalogued and will forever remain an important part of the university’s history.
These are just a few of the numerous interesting safes in recent history that have been the subject of news coverage.
(This is a guest post, researched and written by Mitchell Wakehurst / Citsafes.)