Opening a safe is specialist work. Many locksmiths in Singapore are excellent at doors and digital locks but rarely open safes, and the quickest way for them to get one open is to drill it. The right safe locksmith (a safesmith) can often open the same safe without damage, so you keep using it. Here's what to check before you book anyone.
1. Ask about safe training, not just locksmithing
Safes are a separate trade from door locks. Ask the locksmith where they learned to open safes, how long they've been doing it, and what kinds of safes they open most.
Uncle Thomas has been a locksmith since 1998. He spent a year in the United States training as a safesmith, and completed the Fundamentals of Locksmithing course with ALOA (the Associated Locksmiths of America, now the ALOA Security Professionals Association, the long-running US locksmith trade body) in 1999. He has opened safes for homes, offices, pawnshops, banks and government ministries, on ships and overseas. See his story.
2. Ask whether they'll try to open it without damage first
A good safesmith uses the least damaging method that will work, and tells you which one before starting:
- Electronic keypad safes often just need power or the override route. A dead battery is the most common reason they won't open. See safe box battery dead.
- Mechanical combination dials can often be opened by manipulation: working the lock by feel and sound until it opens, with no drilling and no damage. Uncle Thomas is trained in manipulating the Group 2M combination locks found on many home and office safes.
- Drilling is the last resort, for locks that have failed completely. Done properly, it's a small, precise hole at the right point, and the safe can usually be repaired. In Uncle Thomas's experience, about 90% of drilled safes can be fixed and used again. See does my safe need drilling?
If someone says they'll drill before they've even seen photos of the safe, ask why.
3. Check that they check you
A trustworthy safesmith won't open a safe without proof that it's yours. Expect to show your NRIC or other ID with the address, or for a business safe, authorisation from the owner or a director. It can feel like a hassle when you're stressed, but a locksmith who skips this would open anyone's safe, including yours.
4. Get the price before they start
Safe jobs are usually quoted rather than fixed-price, because the work depends on the safe's make, size, lock type and condition. A job can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours. Send clear photos of the safe, the lock and any brand label on WhatsApp, and you should get an honest estimate, including whether drilling is likely, before anyone sets off. For general price ranges, see how much a locksmith costs in Singapore.
5. Ask what happens after it's open
- A new combination if someone else knew the old one. See safe combination change.
- A new lock if the old one failed.
- An invoice for company and insurance records.
Good signs and red flags
| Good sign | Red flag |
|---|---|
| Asks for photos and the safe's make before quoting | Quotes a price without knowing what safe it is |
| Explains whether the safe can be opened without drilling | Plans to drill before trying anything else |
| Checks ID and proof of ownership | Happy to open it without asking whose it is |
| Agrees the price before starting | "We'll see when we get there" |
| Can name the safe brands and lock types they work on | Vague about safe experience |
| Can reset the code or fit a new lock afterwards | Leaves you with a safe you can't lock |
Questions to ask before you book
- Have you opened this brand or type of safe before?
- Do you expect to open it without drilling? If not, why not?
- What will it cost, and what could change the price?
- What ID or authorisation do you need from me?
- Can you set a new code or fit a new lock afterwards?
How we help
Uncle Thomas opens every type of safe across Singapore, 24/7, for homes and businesses: electronic keypad safes, mechanical combination dials and key-lock safes, from small home safes to heavy commercial ones. Recent jobs include a small home safe that an elderly couple in Woodlands could no longer open. See safe opening and commercial safe services.
Safe won't open? WhatsApp photos of the safe to 9224 9224. We'll tell you how we'd open it, whether it should stay usable, and the price, before we come.