THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT:
safe, vault and ATM lockout, opening and repair services

Hopefully, you found this site because you're locked-out of your safe, vault or ATM and searching for a locksmith company who offers emergency lock-out services in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, or you've been searching in the "Locks & Locksmithing" or "Safes and vaults opening & repairing" category of your local yellow pages, but are having difficulty determining which companies are general locksmiths and which are safe and vault specialists (qualified to unlock your safe), safemen, safe engineers, safe and vault technicians, safe mechanics, safe experts, vault mechanics, or those who are known as "master safecrackers" in popular culture. If that's true, WELCOME!

The purpose of this page is to educate, inform, to dispell popular misconceptions and to help you make intelligent decisions about solving your problem. I know it's a lot to absorb, but please take a few moments to read the following information. It may help you save some money or avoid a costly mistake.

Most people live their whole lives without ever needing the services of a Safecracker or even meeting one. On the other hand, government, law enforcement agencies, bank officers, ATM and armored courier firms, as well as those businesses that deal with lots of cash or high-value items such as jewelry, may need the services of a safe & vault technician regularly, even if only to provide preventive maintenance. Although lock-outs on this kind of equipment are not an everyday ocurrence, it does happen and it's wise to know something about it before having to choose someone to solve your problem. It's not something you want to learn the hard way, especially if what you are locked-out of looks like THIS:

Believe it or not, I'd guess that 30% of the "problem" calls I receive are solved after asking a few questions and giving some practical advice on the phone... for FREE! Sometimes, when you've experienced a problem, just talking to an expert can frequently avoid complicating it which prevents a lock-out and the need for a costly opening.

Most of what you hear and see about safecracking is fantasy, especially the kind of details that are depicted on TV and in films. You didn't really think it was that easy, did you? If you Right-Click on and select "open in a new window" to go to the following hyperlinks, it will allow you to learn more about the art and science of safecracking. You can just close it when you're done to return to where you were on THIS PAGE.

WICKIPEDIA ON SAFE-CRACKING

HOW STUFF WORKS-SAFECRACKING

A DOWNLOADABLE PDF ON SAFECRACKING AND COMBINATION LOCK MANIPULATION

Here's a few initial questions you might have:

How do I choose a qualified Safe & Vault Technician?

How do I determine the value of these services if, like most people, I haven't had to hire a safecracker before?

What, exactly, am I shopping for?

Hopefully, the answers to these questions will become apparent as you read on....

Skilled Safemen don't grow on trees. Many years of training, skills aquisition and experience are required to become a journey-level safe engineer. Specialized tools, equipment and an extensive technical library are also necessary! These things represent quite a large investment in time and money.

I'm sure you have seen BIG ads in your local yellow pages for locksmiths who "also open safes." There is a BIG difference between a general locksmith and a safe and vault SPECIALIST, just as there is between a general medical practitioner and a Neuro-Surgeon.... which one would you choose to excise a tumor from your brain? When asked, often a general locksmith will be happy to refer you to a safe and vault specialist. Because of the specialized training and equipment required, many locksmiths won't offer these services because it is not profitable for them. On the other hand, they are still interested in seeing that their customer's needs are met.

A professional safe technician who is truly skilled, experienced, knowledgeable and thoroughly equipped to service your needs, while preserving the appearance, integrity and usefulness of your unique, antique, or high security safe or vault is not as easy to find as you might think. You can't tell just from looking at a Yellow Page Ad! That's why professional safe & vault specialists are listed in the SAVTA directory and also advertise under a separate yellow page category: Safe and Vault Opening and Repairing. You're more likely to find a competent technician, especially after normal business hours!

When shopping for safe and vault services, don't forget to ask lots of questions! If you pay attention to the answers, it will be easy to tell whether the person on the other end of the phone is qualified and professional or is someone who just wants you to think they are.

Here are 10 questions you can ask that will help you decide whether or not the person or company you are considering is up to the task and will provide you with good value:

1. Will the work be performed by your own staff or do you sub-contract these jobs to other companies and add a fee?

2. Do you have the skills, specialized training and equipment to do this job in a professional manner and can you supply me with current client references?

3. Will my safe need to be drilled or are your technicians skilled and competent in advanced diagnostic procedures, combination lock manipulation and other non-invasive/destructive techniques.

4. Are you licensed, bonded and insured (numbers and coverage limits)?

5. How many years of experience do you have opening and repairing the type of safe, vault or ATM that I am locked out of?

6. Do you charge a "flat-rate, not to exceed price" or an open-ended "hourly rate" for openings?

7. If needed, do your service personnel carry locks, parts and supplies on-board that will allow them to return my equipment to it's full function and integrity?

8. Can you open my safe, vault or ATM with NO damage or minimal repairable damage, even if it has been butchered by a burglar or amateur opening attempt?

9. Can you complete the job and return my safe, vault or ATM to useful service in one visit?

10. Do you guarantee results, as well as your workmanship?


If you or your company require the services of a top-notch safe, vault and ATM specialist, I am certain that you will find ADVANCED SAFE AND VAULT to be:

Safecracker "manipulating" a safe's combination lock (left) and drilling a malfunctioning vault door (right)

Please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs or to obtain an opening or service quote! Click HERE to send an e-mail or CALL 415-519-3401. I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have, and send you a list of client references.

You can also CLICK HERE to download a PDF that has more information on safe & vault services, and a short brochure featuring some of our safe and vault products.

Of course, if you found this site by mistake and you are actually looking for someone who can rekey your house locks, open or fit keys to your car, master key an entire office building or install a door closer, I will be happy to refer you to a competent, licensed locksmith who is nearby and just as interested in providing excellent customer service as I am.

Hiring an unlicensed contractor (especially with regard to your safety or security) can be a very costly mistake. Before you "let your fingers do the walking", why not read what the Federal Trade Commission has to say about obtaining the services of an emergency locksmith or safe technician here:

You can verify my license status or that of any other Lock and Safe Professional within the state of California here:

You may also want to check the current license status of any California Contractor (yes, locksmiths and safe & vault technicians are required to have a current contractor's license and bond) here:

We are approved and certified to open, service, troubleshoot, install and repair DOD and GSA safes, class-5 vaults, class-6 security files, crypto, Map & Plan, and weapons containers made by Diebold, Hamilton, Mosler, Overly and Art Metal, as well as GSA approved locks from S&G and Kaba-Mas including the current X-09 and CDX-09 approved locks. We can supply locks certified under FF-L-2740A and all emergency openings and repairs are performed according to Federal standard 809 (neutralization and repair). Inspections and recertifications are also no problem.

Advanced Safe & Vault Eng. is also the preferred warranty service provider in Northern California for many lock, safe, vault, banking equipment and ATM manufacturers.

Please CALL 415-519-3401 for a FREE, no obligation phone quote.

THANK YOU for visiting my site and please come again!

Safes, gunsafes, vaults, bank equipment and ATMs we have opened and serviced:
A&B, Allied-Gary, Alpine, American, American Security Products, AmSec, Armor, Atlas, Auditcon, Baum, Bernadini, Bischoff, Bode-Panzer, Brown, Cannon, Cary, Cencon, City Safe, Chatwood-Milner, Chubb, Collier, Cross, Corporate Security Systems (CSS), De La Rue, Diebold, Docutel, Eclipse, Emo, Empire, EXL, Fichet-Bauche, FireFyter, FireKing, Fujitsu, Gardall, Gary, Giant, GlobaLoks, Graffunder, Hamilton, Hayman, Hermann, Herring-Hall-Marvin, Ilco-Unican, International, Intersec, ISM, Invincible, Johnson-Pacific, Kaba-Mas, Kaso, Knight, Kumahira, Kumihira, Kumihara, La Gard, Lefebure, Liberty, Lord, LP Locks, Major, Mancini, Mas-Hamilton, McGunn, Meilink, MGM, Modul-X Montgomery-Ward, Mosler, Mutual, National, NCR, NKL, NL Locks, Pacific, Pacific Security Products, Phoenix, Protectall, PSP, Remington & Sherman, Rosengrens, S&G, Sargent & Greenleaf, Schwab, Sears, Securifort, Sentry, SLS, Sportsman Steel, Star, Sturdy Safe, Tann, Tower, Tranax, Triton, US Security, Vector, Victor, Wincor-Nixdorf, X-07, X-08, X-09, and many, many others.

Serving:
Alameda, Albany, Atherton, Bel Marin Keys, Belvedere, Belmont, Berkeley, Bodega Bay, Bolinas, Booneville, Brisbane, Burlingame, Calistoga, Castro Valley, Clearlake, Cloverdale, Colma, Concord, Contra Costa, Corte Madera, Cotati, Cupertino, Danville, Daly City, Davis, Dublin, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Fairfax, Fairfield, Forest Knolls, Foster City, Fort Bragg, Fremont, Gilroy, Guerneville, Half Moon Bay, Hayward, Healdsburg, Hillsborough, Inverness, Jenner, Kelseyville, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Lakeport, Larkspur, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Lucas Valley-Marinwood, Marin City, Martinez, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Mill Valley, Monterey, Monte Rio, Muir Beach, Napa, Nicasio, Novato, Oakland, Olema, Orinda, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Petaluma, Pinole, Pleasanton, Point Reyes Station, Redwood City, Richmond, Rohnert Park, Ross, Stinson Beach, Sacramento, Salinas, San Anselmo, San Francisco, San Carlos, San Jose, San Leandro, San Mateo, San Pablo, San Quentin, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, Santa Venetia, Sausalito, Sonoma, South San Francisco, San Ramon, Sebastopol, Solano, Strawberry, St. Helena, Sunnyvale, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Terra Linda, Tiburon, Ukiah, Union City, Vacaville, Vallejo, Walnut Creek, Windsor, Woodside, Yountville, and most other Northern California and San Francisco Bay Area communities.

Area codes in our service area: 209, 408, 415, 510, 650 707, 831, 916, 925