Choose two methods of entering a safe and describe the process and tools involved

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Safes and vaults can be entered illegally by various means: punching, peeling, chopping, pulling or dragging, blowing, and burning. Sometimes burglars simply haul the safes away.

In punching, the dial is sheared from the safe door by a downward blow with a sledge or by holding a chisel to the dial and using a sledge to knock it off, exposing the safe mechanism spindle.

In peeling, the burglar drills a hole in a corner of the safe and then makes this hole successively larger by using other drills until the narrow end of a jimmy can be inserted in the hole to pry the door partially open.

In chopping, the burglar uses a sledge and chisels or a heavy chopping instrument, such as an axe, to chop a hole in the bottom of the safe large enough to remove the contents.

In pulling, also called dragging, the burglar inserts a V plate over the dial, with the V in place behind the dial. The burglar then tightens the screw bolts one at a time until the dial and the spindle are pulled out.

In blowing, the burglar drills a hole in the safe near the locking bar area or pushes cotton into an area of the safe door crack and puts nitroglycerin on the cotton. The burglar then places a primer cap against the cotton, tapes it in place, and runs a wire to a protected area. Mattresses and blankets are often used to soften the blast. The burglar ignites the nitroglycerin, which blows the safe open.

The process of burning often uses a "burning bar," a portable safecracking tool that burns a hole into the safe to gain entry. This hole may be burned near the safe's locking mechanism, or the safe may be tipped over and the hole burned through the bottom.