Deposit Safes: The Quick and Secure Way to Protect Your Money

Every business that deals with cash worries about theft and how to avoid it. A drop box or deposit safe can minimize the risk of robbery and loss. They are designed to help motels and hotels, gas stations, retail stores, convenience stores, restaurants, and other cash-based businesses, safely store and secure their money.

Drop safes use front or top loading drop systems. Deposits are made through a bin which places the cash in the interior of the safe as it closes. An anti-fish baffle mechanism prevents anyone from pulling a deposit out of the safe. Multiple people can deposit cash quickly and easily throughout the day without the use of a key or combination. Most drop box safes also have a time delay to discourage robberies, and flush doors and heavy jambs to prevent thieves from using a sledgehammer or a crowbar to open them. There are additional safety features that can also be included, such as pre-drilled anchoring holes, steel plated doors, steel locking bolts, and anti-drill lock plates.

Buying Tips:
A good drop safe should have at least a U.L Group 2 lock. This is an Underwriters Laboratories Group II label and ensures that the lock has been tested and can withstand at least 5 minutes of a trained professional trying to break in with crowbars, chisels, and other equipment. This also means that only a locksmith is able to change the combination.

You should also make sure that any depository safe you use has a minimum steel door thickness of 1/2″ and a minimum steel body thickness of ¼”. Some manufacturers try to cut their production costs by using sheet model or other types that are listed as “composite” but these are not as strong as steel and not as resistant to robberies.

If you are using a drop box safe for your restaurant make sure it is bolted down with epoxy anchor bolts, this will ensure that the safe bolts are not compromised by water. Also, if you plan to install a drop safe in your vehicle, buy a safe that includes a mounting kit.

There are three main styles of depository safes to choose from, a compact model, single-door model, and a double-door model.

Compact Deposit Safe:
This type of drop box safe is ideal for retail stores or other businesses that need to store cash temporarily. Because of its smaller size, it can be easily stored away from view under a counter. The Protex TC-03C is a depository safe that offers maximum security in  a compact size.

Single Door Deposit Safe:
Drop safes with electronic locks offer up to 1,000,000 possible combinations and include a continuous locking lug on the hinge side for greater protection. The Protex TC-O1E Heavy Duty Drop Safe is an example of this type of safe. It also has a spring-loaded relocker to make sure your safe stays locked during a robbery. A relocker is a hardened pin that is triggered during an attack and cannot be retracted without hours of drilling.

Double Door (Dual Compartment) Deposit Safe:
This type of drop safe is best for long-term storage of cash for any business. Its dual compartments allow for two security levels. Access can be granted to employees to coinage in the bottom compartment while cash in the top compartment remains secure. The Protex FDD-3214 Dual Compartment Depository Safe offers 3 live locking bolts in each door, as well as a spring-loaded relocker, wrong-try penalty lockout, and an internal dead-bar.

A robbery can happen at any time to any business and the best prevention is to be prepared. A drop safe can be a simple, yet effective way to keep your money safe.