nasanews Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 I would like to install a small hidden safe to keep my valuable items in my condo but I need advice on where the safe should be installed and kept totally hidden. I am looking for smart ideas that might include building it inside a wall or to be secretly installed any where in my condo including the bathroom or even as fake furniture. Thanks ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metisdead Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Moving to the DIY forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonboy Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Is there any room you keep closed while you are away ? Install a steel fireproof door with 3 locks and use the room for keeping your valuables. Any small safe will not be any problem for professionals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Lots of ideas on the interweb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Is it a reasonably large condo or a studio which likely would give you little option? What size do you need? There are options like a safe that looks like an electrical outlet, a wall clock or pieces of furniture. Mine is simply under the sink like most of them but very well fixed in... to the wall behind not the wood panel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I had one installed under the floor boards, with a rug covering the area. It's only small, about 12'x12' but it holds alot of cash and jewels. It's concreted in so you would need a jackhammer to remove it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerbalEd Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I've installed a hidden storage box in my house that works very well. Unfortunately I had to kill the guy who installed it. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Where it goes depends on the construction of the condo and how thick the walls etc are. Not polite to drill a hole in the floor and install a floor safe . It might upset the neighbors below? I favour the building inspector approach. Give would be thieves/visitors something to find. So have a cheap safe somewhere not super obvious but... They will bust a gut tearing into that or stealing it only to be disappointed. The real one can as has been said somewhere like under the sink or wherever it is suitable and they won't look because they are clever and have found what they believe they are looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotpoom Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I had a builder ( his idea ) make an area for a " sunken safe in my house as he was renovating it. It was fantastic, you would never know it was there. He even hat the "cover" tiled to match the rest of the floor. But......there was only one problem. When I attempted to lift off the cover I could hardly do it. I told " she who must be obeyed" to tell him that everytime I wanted to get something from the safe I would have to call about a dozen if my friends to help me with the lid. You see...the cover was solid mass concrete about 4" thick. I had to get him to chisel have of the underneath of it away (and even take more off myself later). Obviously not an idea for a condo. ....In my condo I had the safe fixed to the back wall inside the wardrobe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verticalift Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I had a medium sized safe installed in one of our lower kitchen cabinets where most people keep all their pots and pans. Not too many bad guys are going to think about cooking a meal while ransacking your place..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnkleMoooose Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Give me your address and combination and I'll be right over to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlQaholic Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Remember, in a condo you are not allowed to make any alterations to the structural walls between condos, so the safe in the wall is out of the question unless you have concrete/brick walls inside the condo. just fix it above the ceiling would be my advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctorbu Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 3 hours ago, steven100 said: I had one installed under the floor boards, with a rug covering the area. It's only small, about 12'x12' but it holds alot of cash and jewels. It's concreted in so you would need a jackhammer to remove it. I've done similar in the past and it worked well.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mansell Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I think the best idea is an obvious safe they can steal with a couple of bricks in it to simulate gold bars etc. I have a clock which looks normal, and a large dictionary which looks normal, and even a multi outlet with a red light, and they all can hide money or jewels......funny thing is I never use them. But they can be bought online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metisdead Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Non helpful posts and replies have been removed. If you nothing constructive to offer, please don't bother posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I'm with the "hide in plain sight" school. A nice, reasonably (not too) obvious, low-cost safe containing highly valuable bricks, put Wifey's ice in the freezer. No, you won't find our valuables in the freezer (or the safe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regedit Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Use any socket/light switch boxes that you are not using (disconnect the supply) - or install some dummy ones with deep recesses. Not exactly a safe but no-one will think to look there (except geckos). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooinekrsa Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Remove kick plate on kitchen or bedroom cupboard and just stash your cash there. Then replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawker9000 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 On 8/28/2017 at 8:54 PM, AlQaholic said: Remember, in a condo you are not allowed to make any alterations to the structural walls between condos, so the safe in the wall is out of the question unless you have concrete/brick walls inside the condo. just fix it above the ceiling would be my advice. Doesn't the rule cover ceilings & floors as well? (I really don't know; honest question.) Not knowing, I'd think that ceilings (unless you live on the top floor) and floors (unless you live on the bottom floor) are "structural" and "between condos", too. And if the ceiling is one with ductwork and plenum etc. above, a safe, assuming it doesn't interfere with some of that stuff to begin with, will be spotted the first time anybody goes up there for maintenance work (ok, ok, I know I know ,,, "maintenance"??!! WHAT maintenance??). No matter where you hide a safe, a simple metal detector can find it, can't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KittenKong Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 On 29/08/2017 at 10:54 AM, AlQaholic said: Remember, in a condo you are not allowed to make any alterations to the structural walls between condos, so the safe in the wall is out of the question unless you have concrete/brick walls inside the condo. This is true. Though I wonder why someone living in a condo would need a safe anyway. I dont have one and have never felt the need for one. Perhaps they have dodgy guests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGW Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 On 8/29/2017 at 0:20 PM, Mansell said: I think the best idea is an obvious safe they can steal with a couple of bricks in it to simulate gold bars etc. I have a clock which looks normal, and a large dictionary which looks normal, and even a multi outlet with a red light, and they all can hide money or jewels......funny thing is I never use them. But they can be bought online. I am off the same mind, believe ours fits in nicely with the bamboo furniture & matches the carpet and curtains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeab1980 Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 (edited) Tip i picked up years ago of my old granny. Then she used plastic bags put valuables in and tied bags put those inside an old tea tin and put that in a bag as well then placed them as it was then outdoor loo header tank. Now i use a completley waterproof diving bag and place it in systern added bonus nowadays of the blue flush hidding it more. Another ive seen on the interweb is a metal kitchen bin with a fasle bottom. It had a combi safe added to false bottom. Edited September 1, 2017 by jeab1980 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manarak Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 okay, here are some ideas: - if you live in a house or ground floor condo, you can put a safe into the floor. If it should be a secret safe that is not opened frequently, you could even regrout the cover and locate it in a special place, such as under the fridge, under the kitchen sink, etc. - a decoy safe is a good idea, for example in a fake electrical panel - good large safes are not that expensive. I got one installed, it weighs about 110 Kg and is bolted to the ground. It cost me all-in 12000 baht and is large enough for a 17 inch laptop and a bunch of other things. Thieves would need a lot of equipment to even just move it. - the safe is not everything. I have also installed an alarm system that secures windows and doors with contact sensors and there are also motion detectors that cover all strategic points. I think an alarm system is essential to complement the safes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawker9000 Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 4 hours ago, jeab1980 said: Tip i picked up years ago of my old granny. Then she used plastic bags put valuables in and tied bags put those inside an old tea tin and put that in a bag as well then placed them as it was then outdoor loo header tank. Now i use a completley waterproof diving bag and place it in systern added bonus nowadays of the blue flush hidding it more. Another ive seen on the interweb is a metal kitchen bin with a fasle bottom. It had a combi safe added to false bottom. I'm pretty sure the "bag in the toilet" thing is fairly well known and recommend something more inventive than that. ('Might be a good place for a decoy though...) Rather than "security through obscurity", you might go the "too big to steal" route and get a larger, fairly heavy (fireproof and almost impossible for one person to carry any distance) safe than can be securely bolted to the floor tucked squarely in the corner of a closet, making it necessary to practically demolish the adjacent walls to remove it unless you can get the door open to get to the bolts. Try and carry out the installation yourself and as inconspicuously as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inThailand Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 (edited) Isn't the best solution based on who is the threat to your valuables? Your gf, bg, maid, condo staff, pest control, contractors, neighbors or falangs. Never heard of a random theft here, always an inside job. Edited September 1, 2017 by inThailand fat fingers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawker9000 Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Just now, inThailand said: Isn't the best solution based on who is the threat to your valuables? Your gf, bg, maid, condo staff, pest control, contractors, neighbors or falangs. ...or All the Above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeab1980 Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 4 hours ago, hawker9000 said: I'm pretty sure the "bag in the toilet" thing is fairly well known and recommend something more inventive than that. ('Might be a good place for a decoy though...) Rather than "security through obscurity", you might go the "too big to steal" route and get a larger, fairly heavy (fireproof and almost impossible for one person to carry any distance) safe than can be securely bolted to the floor tucked squarely in the corner of a closet, making it necessary to practically demolish the adjacent walls to remove it unless you can get the door open to get to the bolts. Try and carry out the installation yourself and as inconspicuously as possible. Could well be but have never been robbed yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KittenKong Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 2 hours ago, jeab1980 said: Could well be but have never been robbed yet. A very wise old man told me that the best anti-elephant protection was to put a large bale of straw coloured purple by the front door. Elephants hate purple straw and will never go near it. I've done this for years in my condo and so far I have never had any elephant problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KittenKong Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 10 hours ago, manarak said: if you live in a house or ground floor condo, you can put a safe into the floor. In a condo the floor is normally structural and belongs to the building, even on the ground floor. So permission would be required to make holes in it. On 31/08/2017 at 9:36 AM, hawker9000 said: Doesn't the rule cover ceilings & floors as well? (I really don't know; honest question.) Not knowing, I'd think that ceilings (unless you live on the top floor) and floors (unless you live on the bottom floor) are "structural" and "between condos", too. Concrete ceilings are also structural, and the same rules apply, including for the top floor, but in most condo buildings a second false ceiling is used below the concrete one (to hide pipework, ductwork and lighting) and this can be modified without permission as it is decorative rather than structural. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinga Posted September 2, 2017 Share Posted September 2, 2017 10 hours ago, manarak said: okay, here are some ideas: - if you live in a house or ground floor condo, you can put a safe into the floor. If it should be a secret safe that is not opened frequently, you could even regrout the cover and locate it in a special place, such as under the fridge, under the kitchen sink, etc. - a decoy safe is a good idea, for example in a fake electrical panel - good large safes are not that expensive. I got one installed, it weighs about 110 Kg and is bolted to the ground. It cost me all-in 12000 baht and is large enough for a 17 inch laptop and a bunch of other things. Thieves would need a lot of equipment to even just move it. - the safe is not everything. I have also installed an alarm system that secures windows and doors with contact sensors and there are also motion detectors that cover all strategic points. I think an alarm system is essential to complement the safes. Good suggestions - but the 'good large safe' may only protect against a robbery when you're NOT home. What if the 'good large safe' causes such high expectations of a significant haul that the robber/s target their visit for when you ARE AT HOME. Don't like the potential threat of "open it now or else..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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