Ex Safecracker Confesses Ogilvy

An ex-safecracker confesses that he never cracked a Chubb safe

Up until a few years ago I never did an honest day's work in my life. It was too easy to make lots of money by breaking into offices and shops and pinching whatever was in the safe. But I'm going straight now. Seen the light you might say.

In my time I must have knocked over scores of safes. The kinds I'd learned to take apart. Once I knew what made a particular safe tick, I would go round looking for those safes, find one, break in and crack it. I tried to crack Chubb safes. Believe me I tried. Understand this — some safes are easier to beat than others. It's all a matter of degree of difficulty. I've had to use drills and torches to open some safes. Others I've only had to use a few well-aimed blows from a sledge hammer. Some have demanded a more scientific approach — pouring acid through the locks and stuff like that. I've tried the whole lot on Chubb safes. Spent up to 12 nerve-wracking hours mucking around trying one thing after another. But to no avail. I always left empty handed — except for a few blisters. But they don't count. Hollywood has given people a false idea about safes. In the movies you see blokes sandpaper their fingers, listen a bit with a stethoscope and before you know it, they've got the combination and the safe is open. The result is that most people figure there's no point in paying a lot of money for a good safe, if some dude can just walk in and tickle it open. But they're wrong, see. A good modern safe can't be opened that way. A cheap safe can be opened with a crowbar or a hammer. A better safe requires acid, drill or torch. But against a Chubb safe — well, nothing ever worked for me. Those people who bought Chubb safes knew what they were getting — real security. They weren't fooled by Hollywood, not one bit. That's why I never got my hands on their valuables.

This story is based on various techniques used to illegally open safes.

Some advice from an old pro If you've got something of value to protect, talk to Chubb. They'll fix you up. They make safes and security alarm systems that make it virtually impossible for blokes like me to get our hands on your valuables. Since I've been going straight I've a bit of money and you'll never guess where it is. Right. It's in a Chubb safe. For Chubb protection, peace of mind and a very safe investment, act now. Fill in the coupon and send it to Chubb. Chubb Singapore Pte Ltd Chubb House Robinson Road Singapore 1 P.O. Box 2082 Tel 2222 888 Free information Free advice Free quotation Tick one of the above & Chubb will act with all haste Name Address Telephone