The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-04-22
NO BuRGLAR-pRooF SAFES.
Iron and Steel Cannot Withstand Dyna mite.
Not Proof Against Expert Crnclsmen.

Can you make safe absolutely burglar.
proof2" was the question put to Baltimore
shoemaker by reporter.
Well, hardly, if you give the burglar
all the time and dynamite he wants. 1 ex-
pect any craftsman could open the strong
est safe on Gods footstool with pocketful
of nitroglycerine, if let alone But he might
have trouble finding the valuables that
would be scattered within radius of o
quarter of mile"
The reporter explained that he did not
refer to case in which the burglar was to
have dynamite factory and fortnight at
his disposal. In reply to more specific
question the gentleman said:
i" Yes, we can construct safe of iron and
steel that win resist the ordinary burglar
for several hours, one that cannot be open.
ed in single night. Common safes, how
ever, are not intended to be secure against
expert crooks, but only fire proof. With
the perfected combination and time locks
now in use no one but an expert can open q
safe, and they can't always do it without
using an explosive. With the old styles it
is comparatively an easy matter, for you
can get enough powder between the edge Of
the door and the frame to blow the door
open. All manufacturers now make the
door fit tight SO that an explosion cannot
be applied from that point Some of the
devices have the additional advantage OF
giving better protection from fire. As q
rule now, the craftsmen, when they can't
discover the combination, drill the door and
and insert dynamite shell, which skaters
the lock- The noise of the explosion is like
ly to attract attention and ia consequently
dangerous for Athe thief. The very fly
crack drills iy4to the lock within few incbes
Of the dial and attempts to slip the wheels
so that the dog will fail in the stats. This
can be do1e without being heard in an ad-
joining room. There is one point in safe
door, which, if bored by drill, renders the
lock useless. Not many can find it, and /
is'-e seen safes brought to the factory with
hanodozen small round holes in the door.
But the trouble is not over when the inside
is gained. The chilled-steel chest within ia
often greater bother than the door. You
may remember, about a year ago, the safe
at the post office at Annapolis was broken
open. The burglars carried the box that il
contained nearly a mile, and when they
reached secluded place proceeded leisure
ly and laboriously to smash it to pieces with
o sledge-hammer. One of the most bune-
ling jobs I ever saw was done in East Balti-
more last summer. The fellow, by sheer
strength and hand work, knocked hole
through one end of the safe, picked out the
filling, broke through the inside lining, but
did not get much afterward He was cap.
tured with jimmy made of two pieces OF
steel. 1t was unlike those commonly used
by the professionals. Occasionally the
burglars take safe out of the building be.
fore they begin to work on it. This can
only be done with the small Sizes The best
burglar-proof safe is lined with bars of the
hardest steel placed transversely. One of
that kind will break any drill. Our primary
object is, as said before, to make a safe
that will stand fire. The merit of the differ.
ent kinds depends upon the filing. The
three or four inch filing of cement, gyp.
sum, mica, or whatever mixture is used be.
tween the iron or steel cases, is the non.
conductor. Metal alone would not afford
any protection in hot fire."
Suppose a man forgets tae combina-
hon ?"
" In that case he can either blow it open
or send for an expert. 1t occurs frequently
Not long ago I was sent for to open safe
No one knew the numbers except the owner,
and he was absent-minded. He and his
clerks and the porter had all been pounding
at it with asledge. opened it in Is min.
utes by working the knob. Perhaps the
best way to guard against an accident OF
that kind, though, is to adopt the plan Of a
Pennsylvania postmaster in a country town
whom met in Commissioner Rogers Office
a few months ago. His Office was robbed
and the burglar was captured in this city.
At the hearing the postmaster was asked if
his safe was locked on the night of the rob,
berry.
No. said he, never lock it,
Why not p was asked.
Because was always afraid that burg
lars might come, and, finding IL locked,
would blow it open and break it,"