JimsKnight

Ill tell you guys the method I use. This is cheap and effective.

First buy the Largest / Heaviest safe that you can Afford / Have room for.

After you have fixed it in which ever manner available to you, then go out and buy Enough Lead Bars or Powdered Lead to fill up the unused portion of the safe.

Essentially you can make a 90 Kilo safe weigh 250 Kilo's very easily and still have plenty of room to put your valuables inside.

The bigger the safe is the harder it is for burglars to carry it away unnoticed, and once you get past the 200 Kilo weight it is very difficult to lift without a small crane.

300 Kilo's of Lead is quite cheap and very Compact.

That really is a "no brainer" after you mention it. Very good idea if thought is given to ample floor support. I would have only one concern, the delivery. If the wrong people (even simply local gossipers) see that BIG safe being delivered assumptions will be made that your valuables must be equally big. Any suggestions on having it delivered discreetly?

What comes to mind is not purchasing locally and having it delivered (covered up) during a sure to be quite daytime hour as under nightfall would draw more attention even with less visibility.

Good point. However:

I delivered it myself from the shop! With NO address being given to the seller

lol @ BB gun in the safe... and then lol at the safe... yeah 3300 THB... thats gonna secure your valuables!

It's better than nothing. Kinda like saying 'You should own a super-bike or nothing instead of a scooter.' Well the man without a scooter isn't going very far at all.

The bb gun has been upgraded to about 18 ft pounds pressure (in the UK the legal limit is 6 Ft pounds).

I don't expect your brain to know what that means but basically if you stand in front of me at about 10 - 30 ft away you are going to end up with 6mm (metal) bbs going through you at high-velocity. The magazine takes about 30 bbs which can be rapidly fired (semi-auto). You are going to be either maimed or dead if you try anything.

Guess what? It will secure my valuables.

Besides most likely if you get robbed... it is by the local BiB. (or their friends). My advice... rent a safe at the bank.

Oh <deleted> with your bs. You haven't a clue but love to post garbage. I expected better from a senior member of TV but then again...

Also if you want to fix something and dont want it to disappear get the chemical tabs (epoxy) not the plastic ones...

I rent and need to remove it when I move on...

See bold.

Seriously Jim what you need to do is install a safe in the cement hidden. My safe in Hawaii was 110 pounds & was metal plated to girders & then steel with cement over the rafters. The safe was then welded onto the metal plate.The floor had a hidden panel to get to the safe.In addition to that I had a safe in my closet with $87 a fake Rolex watch & some defunct stocks from Roan copper mines(Now defunct) Worth zip but traceable. The Thai safes are pretty bogus & any angle grinder & 4 or 5 other ways mentioned to get in.Also get a 1000 baht phone so if they use the cell the GPS feature will let the heat trace the whereabouts if they are dumb enough to use the phone & most of the Komoies are bumbling idiots.That is how Sattahib caught 4 of 5 of the idiots that robbed us.( before I thought about securing the property & the most important portion US!.)Not to handy for a piece to be in a safe when you need it. I had my Mossberg shotgun proudly displayed & my Smith & Wesson handgun hidden in a custom flip down panel I built near the air conditioner. I still prefer my blades over the guns, But the guns are the right thing for a gunfight! I also paid the local heat & my safe doors & flip down panel were all wired to the cop shop. I realize here you may not have the options as home But seriously I would only use that safe as a decoy so your piece doesn't grow wings if they steal the safe or get into it. My girl can easily pick up & carry 20 kilos -Our dogs weigh more.

You sound like you are capable of crafting a hidden panel somewhere assessable for the gun.A gun in the safe is too late by the time you get it out.Neither of our dogs will eat from strangers when we are not right there. If you tossed a nice steak they would just keep barking.They jump over the barb wire fence & they get a load full of teeth from the Black Lab. The Retriever not to great at biting unless your close to him. The Lab stays away from the fence but will rush after a breach. I can't get them to do tricks but all they need to be good at is keeping the un-wanteds out. Really a good option if you can have a dog at your place. You would have to train the dog from a puppy to get it to not eat a pitched hunk of food.

I was foolish once & built this house as close to a fortress & have great protection 1 minute away that is a cop that really loves to unload his gun on any perps. Well worth it!!!!!

Good luck on the safe.

Thanks for this post, it's worth answering.

Firstly. I agree on the cement thing.

I can't fck around too much with altering the design of the house. The reason is I rent and never will buy property here. This leaves me with less options.

Yes the safe is going to be used as a decoy one once I get more time and cash together for a bigger safe. I also need a pick-up. This will probably be months away though.

At the moment it is disguised though.

On the gun in the safe;

At night-time when I dwell within and the gun taken out and is ready-to-hand.

Only if I leave the place is the gun secured in the safe.

Your dogs sound the business man!

Not many dogs in Thailand with farang owners are that well trained, most are barkers and little more besides.

Good to hear your dogs aren't like that, you have them at military / police training level.

All you need to do now is have them not showing fear from gunshots and you are laughing

16 kg. isn't a very heavy safe. I have one that weighs much, much more and with the smooth metal on the outside and the awkwardness of holding it, it is really difficult to pick up and walk with; and I'm no weakling nor am I old. You want that to be part of your defense if it gets to the stage where somebody can pick it up. They will quickly realize that they are not going very far and will look 100% suspicious, and knowing this country they wouldn't have thought that far ahead. Thieves don't tend to back vehicles up to houses to they can load something heavy and get away.

I've had a few friends who were robbed and there were commonalities shared in each, and, incidentally, the biggest one accounts for me never having been robbed--staying out of sight. I live on a road that usually has people around and things going on.

Here are some other things to be aware of if you're not already:

1 Naturally someone will case the joint, but you could easily not see this.

2 They will likely be prepared to open a door or window easily, but apart from that they will want to have parked nearby, walk in not looking too suspicious, and walk away the same way. So dropping a laptop, netbook, or iphone into a bag, or of course stealing money, works great.

3 The cleverest I heard of happened a few years ago when some thieves got a hold of some kind of sleeping gas. Dark areas,

in the middle of the night they would find a way to get a little tube into the house and knock everybody unconscious. Then they just broke in and walked around confidently doing whatever they wanted, very scary.

4 There are stories of armed burglaries in Thailand, but I reckon one of these happens per 100 or more. Normally the thief slips in and out while the house is empty, or something to this effect.

5 Lastly, thieves are lazy, but they are opportunists. A lot of times construction provides a great opportunity for them. A friend of mine who lives in a small gated community got robbed while part of the wall was down due to construction (a new house caused the wall to have to be extended to get around it). While there was a nice big hole there a thief or thieves just couldn't resist. If the wall were in place the last thing they wanted to be doing was climbing it (all that extra effort) and something like my friend's laptop could've been broken in the process. They did it in broad daylight just past midday while the community was totally empty (obviously with help to know that for sure).

Hope I've been helpful somehow.

I great post, I thought I was about to have an anti-gun 'tard on my case there

1. I agree, this is why my place has tinted windows all around

Yes they also like a place to park up and use for getaway. When they attempted to bust in this is exactly what they did.

2. Again yes, thieves don't like noise. They slid open my mates window which had the usb dongle going through it.

3. The sleeping gas is downright sneaky. Thankfully in my room I have an air-extractor whice would really make that scenario a no-go.

4. Which is why I have a gun, pepper-spray and other things I know farangs who haven't been on the ball who have had the humiliating and demeaning experience of home-invasion. Every one I've spoken to who has had this happen has wished they were armed and of reacted quicker to the invasion instead of cowering in their beds like a wretch. Do you hear me now anti-gun 'tards?

5. I suspect the builders nearby may of had a hand in passing on information to the thieves.

Also why shouldn't I own a gun? That's a serious question by the way

Maybe you'd like to check out this thread which will answer why you shouldn't own a gun

http://www.thaivisa....ws-in-thailand/

Sorry, already read that thread and I am a legit owner of that gun. No dice for you

Thanks Ray.

Just trying to show people useful and interesting stuff on TV but the vocal minority like to step on my tail if they get the chance.

why does it have to be a "gun safe"... why not just "safe"... did mommy not love you enough as a little boy?

It's for youtube search listing SEO and because it's got a gun it, sorry for upsetting your anti-gun wooly brain

Are you making it your retarding mission on Thai Visa to basically attack my videos because you're incapable of making them yourself?

Are you unsecure in being a man (or a mutant perhaps?) that you need to show a man being groped by a load of other men??

You've joining the shitcan list as I've run out of time and patience to reply to your <deleted> mind.

Ram that up your sht pit and smile baby

The data above in my post as I noted came from a 2005 document submitted to the UN, focused on illegal trading {extraterritorial} for which I didn't have a non-subscription link for yesterday, however I rummaged through the UN sites and found this public link to it. It has the edifying title of National Report of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Implementation of the 2001 United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, July 2005.

Regards

I think the rules for getting a firearm in Bangkok are stricter than out in the provinces...

Hey its my favourite show!... Retard hits helmets with a stick

It was really your head I was hitting, making you the retard and the starring attraction

Why do you have a gun ? That is a serious question by the way.

This ain't Kansas Dorothy.

Seconds count, and in Thailand the police are hours away, especially at nightfall away from provincial cities and towns.

Also why shouldn't I own a gun? That's a serious question by the way

JD, I wasn't attacking the guy either.

Thanks for the reply Mr Scarecrow, I did not realise it was only a BB air pistol or that you lived in the boonies - I thought it was the real deal, and you are quite correct, why shouldn't you own a gun - please accept my apologies.

LOL!

Just to let you know I've just had my permit to own a gun given the ok, so a real gun (legally held) will be going in there soon also )

Bring it on!!!!

If they raise the interest rates to curb inflation then this should make the baht stronger - yipee!!!!!

That's what I was thinking...

What complete and utter crap are,

the 200 bht , crappy strap thai helmets , that would probably fly off ,

and disintegrate into dust on impact with the ground .

i do not understand the farang CCs who wear them .

they should know better . dont they value their lives ?.

:jap:

I most certainly understand a person wearing a helmet as opposed to one who neglects to even bother

I agree, the 4 plastic plugs is a waste of time, might as well just leave it sitting on the floor and save the damage that would be done levering off the wall with a decent crow bar.

Are you for real?

You might as well leave your door wide open and offer the thieves a glass of whisky as they leave!

Grow a set of balls and try not act so spineless!

I was wondering what plastic wall plugs had to do with balls, but then if I have a gun locked away in a safe I wouldn't need balls and could act spineless as well..

It wasn't the plastic or gun I was making any connection with, it was the defeatist and 'might as well do nothing' emphasise you put into your post that got you the 'man-up' response.

The Gun has nothing to do with I'm not carrying the thing about like john wayne and if I have it left out I don't want it getting stolen and misused. That's common sense so enough of the liberal whining please.

If you want to do a good job in breeze blocks then you need to use epoxy bolts like this. They are stronger than the wall itself.

Great stuff, but they don't sell it anywhere I've seen in Thailand.

Why do you have a gun ? That is a serious question by the way.

This ain't Kansas Dorothy.

Seconds count, and in Thailand the police are hours away, especially at nightfall away from provincial cities and towns.

Also why shouldn't I own a gun? That's a serious question by the way

JD, I wasn't attacking the guy either.

I agree, the 4 plastic plugs is a waste of time, might as well just leave it sitting on the floor and save the damage that would be done levering off the wall with a decent crow bar.

Are you for real?

You might as well leave your door wide open and offer the thieves a glass of whisky as they leave!

Grow a set of balls and try not act so spineless!

I'd opt for one that was sunk into the floor. Far more expensive to install BUT it can't be taken out of the floor in a matter of moments and then cracked later at a different location.

I'd opt for a moated castle with an armed prowler guard unit but I'm not going to get it.

The sunken-in-floor-safe is a white elephant.

Great for security, however risk of ground water seeping in during rainy season and the fact the owner would be none too pleased when I come to leave finding a bloody great square hole in the ground.

I agree, the 4 plastic plugs is a waste of time, might as well just leave it sitting on the floor and save the damage that would be done levering off the wall with a decent crow bar.

4 plastic plugs are (let me say this slowly for you) E x p a n d i n g r a w p l u g s. With screw bolts inside they E X P A N D are strong enough to resist attack from an opportunist thai or farang.

With a HEAVY pry bar, which in conjunction with a sledgehammer you'd have to destroy the wall itself. Now you've just made noise noise and more noise.

What breezes about on an internet forum and what really cuts it in real life are two different things.

But when it comes to the crunch it doesn't go down like that, so the internet keyboard know-it-alls keep dreaming their illusions and the other people keep things solid and realistic rather than bleating about it, we do it and show it up.

Will you have a guard dog watching this safe when you are not home? As I see it a good crowbar and 2 minutes of prying and they carry it away go home with all the goodies you neatly stored in one place.

No they can't, and your dog can be bribed, poisoned or killed just prior to the thieves ransacking your house.

Firstly, thieves aren't pro's for the most part in Thailand. Secondly if they are opportunists there's not much they can do.

Thirdly if they come back equipped, having first attempted and fled, I'll of moved the valuables elsewhere.

Fourthly, the safe is concealed, the gun is concealed and nobody knows where the dickens the safe house is anyway.

So tonight, down the bar, I'll be having a drink thinking of your bs knowing that my gun and valuables are safe in my safe without carrying a bunch of heavy stuff around with me every time I want to leave the house :jap:

Well said Tim, you totally 'got' it, unlike a few of the gray heads... :jap:

What are you going to do with the pics that people put up?

In the aftermath of an attempted robbery of the house I’m staying at I’ve decided to upgrade the security. Afterall I have a variety of expensive, ‘nickable’ items. To that end it's time to obtain and install a safe. Here's what happened:

So I set out in the blazing hot day to scour the shops and stores nearby for a gun safe. It had to be affordable, fairly substantial and light enough to transport on my bike.

It also had to have digital and a manual key override feature; as thieves often deliberately destroy the keypad in fustration when faced with one of these and without a key back-up your safe is locked forever...

Within two day’s I’d found this one for 3300 baht, a bit over the odds but I’d haggled it down as far as the owner’s would go:

Here's the stats on it:

16 kilo’s

Digital Keypad

Manual Key

Shelf insert and carpet

4 x expanding masonry bolts

You will need:

A main’s powered drill with a varied array of masonry drill-bits

A spanner or adjustable

Rawplugs (in the case of breeze-block construction)

A Hammer or suitable blunt instrument

Pencil or other marking instrument

Back at the ranch it was time to get cracking on installing it. I shouldn’t have to tell you that a safe isn’t much good if it isn’t anchored securely to something, preferably a wall and / or floor...

Safe Location

First thing it is to decide where you want it. For me it’s right at my bedside where I can get to it from being awoken from sleep etc.

I was going to mount it at waist-height but decided upon the floor, this was partly to do with making it much harder for a thief to rip-out of the wall using levering tools and also it would be easier to install and remove at a later date.

Next thing is to ‘match-mark’ where the holes that are set into the safe onto the wall itself. I just used a graphite pencil but you can use felt pen etc. This is probably the most important bit of all. Make sure the safe is absolutely flush with the wall, in the case of an uneven / unsquare floor or wall you may have to apply pressure while you ‘match-mark’ it up.

Make your Drilling!

Next is drilling out the holes. Make sure that the bolts you are using won’t protude through the neighbouring wall. A good rule of thumb is to keep your bolts to at least 2.5 inches but no more than 4-5 inches. If you have an olde-worlde stone / granite wall then you can possibly exceed this with bigger bolts...

Don’t attempt to ‘gung-ho’ this bit, unless you are really a beast with a drill. I drilled two pilot holes in each hole before I switched to the proper drill-size.

In SE Asia be wary of the cheap drill bits. I drilled out the holes but it took me a lot longer than I thought. The drill was just adequate but the drill bits themselves were glowing red after only seconds of drilling into breeze block!

If this is the case you’re in for a long session, I filled up a cup with water and began ‘quenching’ the bit after each ‘buzz’. So you can make it a bit easier if this is the case.

If you overdo it you could end up with a molten drill tip and have a devil of a time removing it from the hole!

If you have tungsten / carbide drill bits you are laughing in comparison.

If you choose to install the safe onto the floor via floor bolts, then you’ll need to be very careful about not cracking any tile’s present. In SE Asia these are a trend in newer houses.

Pilot drilling each hole is strongly recommended in this case.

Bolt Installation

For European style solid house-bricks and concrete foors expanding masonry bolts are brilliant for using to anchor a safe of any description to.

But for the breeze block construction that is common to South-East Asia they aren’t so good. The cavity-void in the middle will not suit the bolt and during the expansion it will weaken the block itself, crumbling the wall and weakening it.

If this is the case then it’s best to use a screw-bolt with a hefty raw-plug:

The Screw-type bolts aren’t perfect but it’s the best method for breeze block, short of having steel plate’s, and welding bolts to it on the other-side of the wall you can’t go far wrong with this method!

Then it’s just a case of gently tapping the rawplugs into the holes (or simply inserting the expanding bolts), lining-up the safe then inserting the screwbolts into the holes. You’ll want an even hand on tapping the rawplugs in btw. I buckled one accidently and it was a pliers job to yank it out and put another one it...

Ideally you want a small adjustable spanner. In my case all there was to hand in the shops was this bigger one. Meaning tightening them up at a straight-on angle, which takes a bit longer:

You want to tighten these up in-sequence preferably in a diagonal order for best results.

You want all the bolts to be flush as can be.

One flat washer and one spring washer for between the safe-side-bolt and the wall are also a good idea:

Drillout out the concrete floor / equiv. is also very suitable for enhancing your gun safe's resistence to levering tools...

Once you’ve got all the bolts tightened and in place it’s time to fill-up the safe with goodies and valuables

Make sure you use a decent passcode, NOT the factory supplied one or the 1234...

Thanks for reading.

The cops probably took a look at your avatar and thought it was bad enough seeing your pasty skin

Thais often consider bare-chestedness something unseemly when driving and not doing ardous work, on the beach etc.

Put a shirt on and quit your whining man, TV is going down the tubes with lame threads like this

On what basis are these items being shipped? Motorized vehicles are never duty free and chainsaws are a controlled item (requires a government license).

Chainsaws are licensed to buy but if you import it (like a lot of expats do) then you essentially can retrospectively get the license when it arrives, if customs make a fuss that is