Safe opening & installation in Fort Lauderdale & Broward

Safes in Broward homes, condos and shops

Broward safe calls often start with a family clearing out a parent's condo and finding a locked safe no one can open. Others come from seasonal owners whose keypad safe went dead over the summer, or from restaurant and shop owners who need the cash safe working before opening. Installing a new safe here also raises a question inland homeowners rarely face: what can you safely drill into?

A locked safe in a relative's condo

When someone passes away or moves into care, their safe often has no known combination. A safe technician can usually open it by manipulation or by drilling a small, repairable hole. Expect to show that you have authority over the property, such as court papers from the estate, a power of attorney or proof of ownership, before anything is opened.

Drilling into a condo slab? Ask first

Bolting a safe to the floor is one of the best ways to keep it from walking off, but many Broward condo towers are concrete buildings, and some use post-tensioned slabs with steel cables inside the concrete. Drilling into those without knowing where the cables are can be dangerous and expensive. Check with the association or building engineer before anchoring into a slab. In a single-family home on a slab, anchoring is usually more straightforward.

Keypads after a humid summer

Electronic safes left alone for months in a closed-up unit sometimes come back with dead batteries or corroded contacts. Try fresh batteries first. Many safes have an external battery terminal or an override key. If the keypad still won't respond, a technician can open it and repair or replace the lock.

Documents and storm season

Insurance policies, deeds, passports and boat titles are what Broward residents most want to find after a storm. A fire-rated safe protects paper from heat for a stated time, and some models are also rated for water. Burglary ratings are separate. Decide what you need to protect before you buy, and keep the safe off the floor of a room that could take on water if that's a risk where you live.

Need something else in Broward County?

See everything on the Broward County locksmith page, or browse Florida locksmiths.

Want the background first? Read our guide: Safe Opening & Installation.