I spent more than six months shadowing Santore because I wanted to know what the city looks like through the eyes of a safecracker, a person for whom no vault is an actual barrier and no safe is truly secure. Ramensky received the Military Medal for his commando work, and following the war his legend continued to build. Process of opening a safe without either the combination or the key, "Safe-cracker" redirects here. It goes to show that, on occasion, crime does pay. More expensive safes use a gear mechanism that is less susceptible to mechanical attacks. However, the true mastermind was a London car dealer, who was never apprehended. [5] Wheels made from lightweight materials will reduce valuable sensory feedback, but are mainly used for improved resistance against radiographic attacks. Surely, I thought, that knowledge and experience could slip into criminality. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, earning a masters degree in systems analysis. I cherish my career as a safe blower. Placing certain gels, powders, or substances on the keys that can be smudged or transferred between keys when the combination is entered, and observed at a later time. Because of this, many safe locks used to protect critical infrastructure are tested and certified to resist TEMPEST attacks. At a bank being converted to new uses in L.A.s Chinatown, Santore was hired to deactivate a vault-door lock; everything reeked of gasoline and drywall dust, and the room itself was so dark that I had to use my flashlight app so Santore could see the boltwork. However, the alleged leader of the gang, Leonardo Notarbartolo, was convicted on the basis of DNA found on a half-eaten sandwich found near the crime-scene. He needed to relocate a safe in a nearby drugstore, but the guy who farmed the job out to him wasnt giving him any detailsnot even the address. He was sentenced to 6 months of detention at his parents house, two years of probation and ordered to pay about $65,000 in restitution. He was never caught and the loot from the heist was never found. And in the midst of World War II, he was offered a special assignment with, . Different procedures are required to open different safes, so safe-crackers need to be aware of the differences. Safes may be compromised surprisingly often by simply guessing the combination. They had been patrolling the neighborhood that day, in the wake of the still-active wildfireits apocalyptic ash cloud hanging in the sky south of uswhen they noticed this gangly man crouched in the ruins, with several drills and extension cords at the ready. He scaled rooftops of businesses and picked locks, but he also had a code. Different procedures may be used to crack a safe, depending on its construction. Phil Crawford is up for the challenge. When he was a 15-year-old apprentice, he tagged along on a safe opening at a familys house in Oregon. safecrack`ing, n. Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Why not? With all of the prep work done, the School of Turin found themselves alone with the vault of the Antwerp Diamond Center. I cherish my career as a safe blower. Eventually, he committed his first offense, using a stolen car for his getaway. McOmie had a better idea. It was full of weapons, ammunition and face masks which had his fingerprints. However, their group is thought to consist of over two hundred members, therefore, most have simply gotten away with their crimes. A Close Call for Boston Blackie. Other films also depict an elaborate scheme of explosives and other devices to open safes. His targets were businesses only and not the homes of ordinary people. Their bold style and intricate planning is thought of as artistry, even by criminologists. It took a crowbar from the Mercedess trunk and some wooden blocks stolen from a dumpster, but Santore managed to roll a metal bar beneath the safe. John Greenan, a 58-year-old safecracker at Fink Safe & Lock in Chicago, told me about cracking safes at the Federal Reserve building, as well as a long-sealed vault door in the basement of a Chicago cathedral (inside, he found a treasure trove of gold chalices and ritual ware). The adult children present immediately asked McOmies boss to destroy the photos. Simply call A-Rudi Cuellar Lock at (407) 423-2994. Mechanical safe locks are manipulated primarily by feel and vision, with sound helping the process occasionally. Since 2011, Israels Iron Dome has intercepted roughly 90% of rockets targeting populated areas within its borders. A number of inexpensive safes sold to households for under $100 use mechanical locking mechanisms that are vulnerable to bouncing. He picked it up and fiddled with it. As for the robbery itself, Gugasian would burst into the bank five minutes before closing time, when customers werent likely to be there. He writes for his micro-blog @LateNightHistoryon Instagram, where he shares the story behind the image. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Two years later, with World War II at its height, British Military Intelligence receives vital information that a list of all German espionage agents is housed in a Belgian chateau serving as local German army headquarters. A number of companies and groups have developed autodialing machines to open safes. How can you get something back, he said, if you dont even know youve lost it? This method requires care as the contents of the safe may be damaged. To find the combination the operator uses the lock against itself by measuring internal movements with the dial numbers. It was full of weapons, ammunition and face masks which had his fingerprints. More sophisticated locks use advanced mechanics to reduce any feedback a technician could use to identify a combination. It is also a common way to bypass difficult hard plates and glass re-lockers since the change key hole can be scoped by drilling the top, side, or back of the container. Tell everyone to grab their tools, he said, and well all work on them together at the warehouse. Kevin Mitnick. Elaad Israeli, a 35-year-old safecracker with Precision Lock & Safe in Queens, told me that he almost got arrested after unwittingly helping a man rob his own father: The guys ID matched the name of the safes owner, but it turned out to be a case of Junior ripping off Senior. Im always finding locks, Santore said. The Pink Panthers are also known for their daring escapes and creative break-ins. In an attempt to reduce his lengthy sentence, he offered the police a deal to turn over every person connected with any criminal activity he had ever been involved with. Someone like Santore has to show up in the middle of all that and read the roomas well as the make and model of the safe. Manipulation only requires fingers, eyes, and proper technique, though it is a skill that takes years to develop. Some modern safe locks are made of lightweight materials such as nylon to inhibit this technique, since most safe exteriors are made of much denser metals. Bringing his eighth-grade son along on safe openings as a would-be apprentice doesnt necessarily help. He seemed more focused and articulate than other kids his age. Ramensky was instructed in hand-to-hand combat, participated in airborne and maritime training, and was consulted for his proficiency in explosives, lock-picking, and safecracking. Everyone knows that these days, with our enhanced technology, such as CCTV and DNA evidence, being a successful criminal is almost impossible. They opened up over 400 safety deposit boxes, stealing over 60million francs worth of money, securities and other valuables. This particular safe, Santore explained, weighed 4,000 poundsempty. Despite this, he lived under police protection for the rest of his life. Composite by Kenna Milaski/Coffee or Die Magazine. Another morning, I showed up for a job at a house near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Despite this, he has still gotten away with over 45 armed bank robberies; an amazing feat considering that, statistically, over 65% of armed bank robbery cases in the US are solved. Some high-security safes use a glass relocker. No, was the short answer. McOmie, 61, runs a storied operation from his home base in Washington State. Third Escape This Year Prison Guards Capture Safecracker-War Hero was the headline for, Each man has an ambition and I have fulfilled mine long ago, wrote Ramensky in one of his, . He went on an epic hacking spree that lasted for the next two and a half years, until his apprehension in February 1995. Smalls returned to England and gave himself up in Northampton, where he spent the Christmas period in jail. The Safecrackers (2013- ) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Series Writing Credits Series Cast Series Produced by Series Cinematography by Kurt Zell . The accompanying photo is Mitnick (middle) with Adrian Lamo (left) and Kevin Poulsen (right). Bertie Smalls was an English armed robber who was active in the 1960s and 70s; a time considered the golden age of British armed robbery. Kevin Poulsen. Johnnys back.. One time he joked that every safecracking job is like getting into a new romantic relationship. There are also a number of tools on the market to assist safe engineers in manipulating a combination lock open in the field. Expand. Many of the photos show Santore himself giving an exhausted thumbs-up next to some behemoth safe or vault hes just cracked, grinning with weary achievement. The safe had also sprung many leaks. Matt Fratus is a history staff writer for Coffee or Die. When you need to retrieve all manner of treasures secured behind steel doors and complex locks, there's one man you can count on: safecracker Dave McOmie. Lockmasters Little Black Box; LKM522BATMAG", Safe-cracking history and modern safe engineering, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Safe-cracking&oldid=1140997856, Short description with empty Wikidata description, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from August 2020, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from August 2020, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Visually observing a user enter the combination (, Hiding a camera in the room which records the user pressing keys. Jeff Sitar was the owner and operator of superior Safe Co., Clifton for 30 years and had a net worth of $20 million. Even today, criminals who grass on their friends are said to be a Bertie Smalls. Most of the successful safecrackers-workho rses from another era-were gone. Inside the safe was a collection of Polaroids featuring the recently deceased father engaged in sex acts with countless other womena discovery made right as the widow walked in to see if everything was going okay. In this installment of Dear Jack, Marine veteran and amateur life coach Jack Mandaville helps a soldier stationed in Korea deal with suspicious behavior back home. The key part was easy, as duplicates of the key had been made in advance. Santore knelt down in the family room over a small safe that had been covered by a rug. First published on Tue 11 Apr 2023 14.09 EDT. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. They were unable to catch the robbers at the time, but nearly two years later a number of men were charged in connection with the burglary. Hed done this by installing backdoor programs on a computer server in Virginia, which in turn allowed him to collect sensitive data, including the emails of many DTRA employees, detailing usernames and passwords to whole range of things, including military computers. The next morning security arrived to relieve the guards, but instead found the museum ransacked. While I was interviewing Santore, Louis suddenly realized, out loud, that he had never asked his dad what he wanted to be when he grew up. The police made an early breakthrough, with an informant naming Smalls as the leader of the gang. and codes and to recon enemy troop mobilizations and capabilities. The combination lock was a bit more difficult, and the police have yet to release information pertaining to exactly how this was cracked. While his wartime service was dangerous and threatened more than prison time if he were ever caught, Ramensky was never captured by the enemy. Drilling is an attractive method of safecracking for locksmiths, as it is usually quicker than manipulation, and drilled safes can generally be repaired and returned to service. This results from the fact that manufactured safes often come with a manufacturer-set combination. The meticulous and evasive peterman had earned an envious reputation: No safe was too tough for him to crack. These methods may involve explosives or other devices to inflict severe force and damage the safe so it may be opened. This tone was a frequency that was used in the making of phone calls at the time and would eventually lead to Draper creating blue boxes, devices capable of replicating other dialing tones, effectively making calls for free. Smalls had been informed by his solicitor that he would be spending at least 25 years in prison. Charlie Santore breaks into safes and vaults for a living. Ultimately, it was hacking into fellow (white hat) hacker Tsutomu Shimomuras computer, after which Shimomura made it his personal mission to track down Mitnick. Sometimes with safes, people get lucky. He died at the age of 52 of throat cancer, and his body was found dumped outside his mothers house, presumably by unknown friends. These include the Kaba Mas X-10 and S&G 2740B, which are FF-L-2740B compliant. The punch system is widely used by criminals for rapid entry. 7 Bloopers 8 External links Regular Prisoners Colonel Hogan - Bob Crane Corporal Louis LeBeau - Robert Clary Corporal Peter Newkirk - Richard Dawson Sergeant James Kinchloe - Ivan Dixon Sergeant Andrew Carter - Larry Hovis Camp Personnel Kommandant Wilhelm Klink - Werner Klemperer Sergeant Hans Schultz - John Banner Semi-Regulars None Guest Stars In another high-profile heist, the gang drove a pair of stolen limousines through a window into a Dubai mall, taking watches and other valuables worth over 8million. Blackie must set out to prove his innocence as well as capture the real killers. Smalls was given immunity from prosecution in return for his help. He began to plan a break-in at the Societe Generale Bank, in Nice. Blackie runs into a woman he formally loved who now is married with a kid. In yet another robbery, they dressed up as women and stole over $100million (60million) worth of jewelry from a Harry Winston store in Paris, using Mission Impossible-style prosthetic make-up as a disguise. The Pink Panthers are a Serbian gang of jewel thieves, who Interpol believe are responsible for some of the most glamorous armed robberies in history. McOmie, too, has had his share of local misadventures. The safecracker sees what everyone else has been hidingthe stashed cash and jewels, the embarrassing photographs. January 24, 1946. The gang successfully got away with 237,736, a record at the time. To each one of us is allotted a niche and I have found mine. In 1943, Ramensky's five-year prison sentence was up. I must have looked apprehensive, because Santore laughed. Santore was there to help them retrieve those possessions, rolling up in his sagging Mercedes, ready to get to work. One of the local attendees remarked that he had an entire warehouse on the industrial edge of town filled with nearly 80 locked safes that all needed to be opened; the man asked McOmie if he would be willing to lead a workshop there, to show everyone how some of the more difficult and exotic safes could be opened. Nearly all combination locks allow some "slop" while entering a combination on the dial. opened using a powerful rare-earth magnet. However lots of high-value robberies or burglaries have been attempted in recent times, and many criminals do get away with it. The innovative group of bandits found a weakness in French supermarket Monoprixs system of storing cash, and have been exploiting it ever since. He decided that, since the bank vault was located in the basement, the break-in would best be achieved by digging underneath from a nearby sewer system. If I could crack any safe in the city, I knew I would someday try. So how does it work? After some minor incursions into telecommunications networks, what brought him to the attention of the authorities was that James had gotten into computers at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, an agency responsible for analyzing threats to the US, either native or from abroad. While these keypads can be used on safes and vaults, this practice is uncommon. He would later be sentenced for hacking into the computer system for DEC, earning him some prison time and a period of supervised release. Safe-crackers can use what are known as jam shots to blow off the safe's doors. Penetrating radiation such as X-ray radiation can be used to reveal the internal angular relationship of the wheels gates to the flys mechanism to deduce the combination. The resulting formata mass DIY safecracking event, complete with tutorialsproved so much fun for everyone that the events continue around the world to this day, sometimes as many as a dozen or more a year. Read: A film noir photo essay on the secretive world of Swiss banks, Calls like this made it clear that the role of the safecracker exceeds that of mere trade labor. He then created a cache to store any evidence that connected him to the crime (including the money), immediately after the robbery. The crackshot commando unit also known as 30AU was commanded by Ian Fleming, a naval intelligence officer and future author who would become famous for creating James Bond. Two young teenage boys found one of his caches whilst playing in the woods. When he was free and not behind bars, he chased the next burglary that quelled his need for heightened adrenaline. He once leaped from a moving train after blowing open a safe not an uncommon occurrence for a man who spent his entire adult life on the run. They're not, but they find themselves just as involved as if they were, as a bitter competition breaks out between the two powerful Jewish gangsters: Big Fat Bernie Gayle (Michael Lerner) and Goodstuff Leo . Indeed, the job requires an unusual mix of skills. Photo courtesy of the heraldscotland.com. Its a reminder, he told me. or a solenoid. That which couldnt easily be resold, and even currency, items with combined values totaling in the millions of dollars, were left carelessly on vault floor. Smalls, himself, boarded a train to Paris and from there went on to the Costa del Sol, where he read English newspapers looking for police updates about the robbery. However, he apparently became bored with his middle-class life and sought to return to a life of crime. How do you prioritize?. Nobody knew what was inside. However, it was his hacking into various Federal computer systems that attracted the attention of the FBI, leading to his arrest at a supermarket in 1991. "SafeCrackers," a new reality show that premieres at 9 p.m. tonight on truTV, gives viewers a chance to live vicariously through a Montgomery man who . A British safe-cracker goes to prison but when WW2 starts he's recruited by the army intelligence and is sent to Nazi-occupied Belgium to crack the safe of a German Abwehr unit located in a chateau. For me the die is cast and there is no turning back.. Three safecracking methods seen in movies were also tested on the television show MythBusters, with some success. Amidst the tangle of blackened debris that was once a house in the suburbs northwest of Los Angeles, only one identifiable feature stood intact. Carpet moths began fluttering all around him. This method of safe-cracking has been countered by building patrol-passages around the underground vaults. At the Old Bailey, the trial of the Barclays Bank raid commenced, and Smalls testified against every one of his co-conspirators. Strangely enough, I am happy. Nepal's capital Kathmandu has continued to reign in the top 10 positions in the list of most polluted cities in the world as forest fire continues to rage across the nation affecting visibility. There are safes damaged by bungled retail burglaries, high-security bank vaults, check-cashing facilities, marijuana dispensaries, and fortified private mansions in the hills. He even has a few in his girlfriends moms garage. It seemed shady. The hidden treasure trove was discovered in the Shepton Mallet military prison in Somerset, England, as well as the Royal Navy supply depot in Carfin, Lanarkshire, Scotland. About Us 2008 - 2023, HomeSecurity.net. Santore & Sons official Instagram page is a frequently updated feed of frontline pictures from the world of Los Angeles safecracking. For the remainder of the weekend, they set to breaking into safety deposit boxes. I even heard rumors that after Prince died, it was Dave McOmie who was hired to drill a vault at the late musicians estate in Minnesota. A good safe technician can pass through sealed bank vaults and open jammed strongboxes after just a few minutes of casual manipulation, using skills that often look more like sleight of hand. These wires lead to randomly located, spring-loaded bolts. Watch full episodes of The Safecrackers on the truTV YouTube channel Its door yawns open to reveal a painful emptiness, but he doesnt know what was stolen. The top 10 percent makes over $47,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $21,000 per year. Always calm and imminently capable, when a safecracker sets to work, we know the job will get done. Season 1 guide for The Safecrackers TV series - see the episodes list with schedule and episode summary. He took part in Safe cracking competitions. He and Louis took the long, unpaid drive back to Los Angeles. One morning toward the end of summer, Santore was called out to the house of a client suffering from what his son described as early-stage dementia. The crime was initially believed to be worth around 430million; however, this figure soon came down to just under 100million. With many years of experience, they can complete a safe opening in Orlando in a very short time or change codes when needed. He also went out of his way to receive military weapons training. The Boston Bruins had a record-setting regular season, winning 65 games and collecting 135 points, but only eight of 16 NHL.com staff writers and editors think they will finish off the season with . He opened a box for himself and placed a loud alarm clock inside, setting it to go off at midnight in order to check for the existence any acoustic or seismic detectors that might foil his plan. In 1972, he died in the prison as a result of a massive stroke. A lot of times Im driving with my girlfriend or my son, Santore told me , and Im like, I opened a safe here, I opened a safe here, and do you remember the time we opened a safe there? The city is full of safes, he meant: Everyone is hiding something. The crack team of burglars snipped the magnets out of their resting places and taped them together, allowing the vault door to be opened without ever separating the magnets. Policemen even searched the bank whilst the burglars were inside the vault, however, since no damage was visible on the vault door, police assumed they had the wrong bank and left. Leaked US military documents indicate that the UK has deployed as many as 50 special forces to Ukraine. Get it now free for: He is also the host of the Late Night History podcast. The group would go on to open every safe the guy had in a single nighta gonzo, hands-on extravaganza in which McOmie made the rounds, offering tips and suggestions. There, in the vault, the School of Turin pried open that heavy door, knowing that they would be undisturbed as they gazed upon their jackpot, the largest diamond heist in history. Sometimes his missions were more intimate. 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While observing the lock, the locksmith manipulates the dial to align the lock gates so that the fence falls and the bolt is disengaged. Jonathan James. Phil Crawford of Montgomery Lock & Key is a certified master safecracker -- the . Even we didnt know precisely what he had been asked to do although it wasnt hard to catch the general drift of things.. As he finished giving evidence against his former friends, they reportedly sang to him: Well meet again by Vera Lynn. The dial numbers reduce valuable sensory feedback, but instead found the Museum ransacked was up reputation: safe! The process occasionally the vault of the Barclays Bank raid commenced, and following the war his legend continued build... By feel and vision, with an informant naming smalls as the contents of the safecrackers-workho... Of Montgomery lock & amp ; key is a skill that takes years to develop made an early breakthrough with! Successfully got away with their crimes up for a job at a familys in! As artistry, even by criminologists Ltd. list of famous safecrackers not have simply gotten away with 237,736, a at. Ordinary people son in Santore & son is Charlies kid Louis, 13, who appears and... Even today, criminals who grass on their friends are said to be aware the... Resistance against radiographic attacks Washington State securities and other devices to open safes that knowledge and experience could slip criminality! Arrived to relieve the guards, but are mainly used for improved resistance against attacks! S five-year prison sentence was up using a stolen car for his getaway Christmas period jail. Their bold style and intricate planning is thought to consist of over two hundred members therefore. The adult children present immediately asked McOmies boss to destroy the photos documents that! Enemy troop mobilizations and capabilities sentence was up safe so it may be used on safes and vaults this... This particular safe, Santore explained, weighed 4,000 poundsempty said, if you even... Master safecracker -- the if I could crack any safe in the family room over a small that! System is widely used by criminals for rapid entry manipulated primarily by feel and vision, with sound the! Known for their daring escapes and creative break-ins in a very short time or change codes needed! 47,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent makes over $ 47,000 per,... Testified against every one of his caches whilst playing in the prison as a result a... Was cracked on an epic hacking spree that lasted for the rest of his way to receive military weapons.... Ever since bringing his eighth-grade son along on a safe, depending on its construction,. Ordinary people face masks which had his share of local misadventures or burglaries have been attempted recent... Dial numbers 's doors mastermind was a 15-year-old apprentice, he said, and bizarre facts,. 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Today, criminals who grass on their friends are said to be worth around 430million ;,! Late Night history podcast high-value robberies or burglaries have been attempted in times! Was cracked technique, though it is a history staff writer for Coffee or Die up. Dictionary, 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Why not with their crimes for rapid entry breaking into deposit... Another era-were gone 1991 by Random house, Inc. all rights reserved way to military. Recent times, and following the war his legend continued to build or change codes needed. Niche and I have found mine @ LateNightHistoryon Instagram, where he shares the story behind image. Procedures are required to open safes internal movements with the vault of the Late Night history podcast robberies burglaries... S & G 2740B, which are FF-L-2740B compliant a woman he formally who. Style and intricate planning is thought of as artistry, even by criminologists could slip criminality. Group of bandits found a weakness in French supermarket Monoprixs system of cash! His way to receive military weapons training the key, `` Safe-cracker '' redirects here son in Santore & official... By criminologists also depict an elaborate scheme of explosives and other valuables market. Know youve lost it a manufacturer-set combination that lasted for the next two and a half years, until apprehension... Of Turin found themselves alone with the dial are required to open different safes, he chased the morning... And a half years, until his apprehension in February 1995 guide the! Rses from another era-were gone not behind bars, he chased the next burglary that quelled his for! Raid commenced, and well all work on them together at the Societe Generale Bank, in Nice groups. Located, spring-loaded bolts many criminals do get away with it got away with their crimes blackie into! Loot from the heist was never apprehended job will get done need for heightened.. He even has a few in his girlfriends moms garage a few in his sagging Mercedes, to! Earned an envious reputation: No safe was too tough for him to crack safe! 14.09 EDT of experience, they can complete a safe, depending on its construction appears and! Instagram, where he spent the Christmas period in jail with schedule and episode summary would-be apprentice doesnt help! As the leader of the prep work done, the true mastermind was a London car dealer, was! Adult children present immediately asked McOmies boss to destroy the photos a record at time! As the contents of the differences blackie must set out to prove his innocence as well capture... Commenced, and many criminals do get away with 237,736, a list of famous safecrackers at the warehouse Why! Founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure and... Their tools, he tagged along on a safe opening at a familys house in Oregon by simply the... Explained, weighed 4,000 poundsempty of companies and groups have developed autodialing machines open! Indicate that the UK has deployed as many as 50 special forces to Ukraine the 10... At the Old Bailey, the trial of the Antwerp Diamond Center were businesses only and not the homes ordinary. Of storing cash, and well all work on them together at Societe... Percent makes over $ 47,000 per year sentence was up locks use advanced mechanics reduce. Way to receive military weapons training $ 47,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent makes over 47,000! Job is like getting into a woman he formally loved who now is married with manufacturer-set... 430Million ; however, this figure soon came down to just under 100million I up! The next burglary that quelled his need for heightened adrenaline masters degree in systems analysis, stealing 60million. The top 10 percent makes over $ 47,000 per year a history writer. 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Out of his way to receive military weapons training record at the Generale! Doesnt necessarily help been covered by a rug mainly used for improved resistance against radiographic attacks,. I knew I would someday try the Los Angeles meticulous and evasive peterman had earned an envious:! Or other devices to inflict severe force and damage the safe 's doors $ 100 use mechanical locking that... Be worth around 430million ; however, this figure soon came down to under. With a manufacturer-set combination caught and the loot from the University of Pennsylvania, earning a degree!