This day in age, more and more people are turning to small, inexpensive safes to protect their belongings. And why wouldn't they? They're more affordable than ever... but the truth about these cheap safes is, they are nothing more than a deterrent. They don't actually protect your stuff. And even when the price-point is elevated to a few bills, the security remains woefully the pathetic same.

In this case, a "biometric" safe that remains an Amazon best seller gets tested and instantly fails. You're buying the feeling of security, not actual security. Sort of like when you purchase cheap gun safes. Yeah, they're big and heavy, but you can slice through them with any cheap circular saw on the market. Why would a person spend so much money on valuables just to be cheap on keeping said valuables?

This is most evident when checking out the affordable options from the big box stores... You don't even need a lock-picking set to crack 'em, just a big magnet...

I'll confess, any security is better than no security when it comes to your stuff... but if you want to get serious about it, there are a few key areas to examine before making your decision.

How thick is the metal on your safe? The overwhelming majority are merely thin sheet metal. Sure, they feel heavy and substantial, but that's only because they're filled with sheetrock. Sheetrock is what gives a safe its fire rating, because gypsum doesn't burn.

How thick is the door, and is it hardened? That's the real question you should look at. Weight is good, but weight doesn't tell you how secure a safe is.

Go for the old school combination dial. It's a lot harder to get around. Anything that is digital is vulnerable. Anything that takes a key is just a waste of money.

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