How do you install a safe in your car securely?

Seeking Help Forum
21

Cai said:
Are you planning a big road trip? Why not take stuff in a backpack? Or maybe use a Kensington lock on the laptop, chaining it to something inside the car?

Yep, planning a long trip through South America, so theft is a concern in certain areas. I’ll keep my main valuables with me, but carrying all my electronics isn’t always practical. And you’re right; if I leave the vehicle for days, nothing will probably stop a determined thief. Might consider asking locals to hold onto my things when needed.

22

@Jory
True, leaving the car for days does make it risky. Bring an external hard drive to back up your files, in case the internet’s spotty for cloud backups.

23

Cai said:
@Jory
True, leaving the car for days does make it risky. Bring an external hard drive to back up your files, in case the internet’s spotty for cloud backups.

Good point on backups! Already got a vehicle tracker too, just in case.

24

Search for laptop car safes… there are quite a few. Many are like lockboxes, not full safes, but they work. You can bolt them down or secure with a steel cable.

25

Sloan said:
Search for laptop car safes… there are quite a few. Many are like lockboxes, not full safes, but they work. You can bolt them down or secure with a steel cable.

Thanks for the tip!

26

Keep in mind, any place you install it will either attract thieves or make it obvious you’re hiding something. Try getting smaller devices and use multi-factor authentication on everything. I wouldn’t recommend biometric locks, either. They can be unlocked without your consent if you’re not conscious.

Activate tracking from the start and have a couple of trusted people who can track your devices remotely if needed.

27

@Reese
Oh wow, hadn’t considered that. If someone’s threatening me, I’ll give the code up way before I pass out!

I’ll set up location sharing with my partner and a family member. Not usually into security like this, but it’s probably smart for this trip.

28

@Jory
Just remember, in a lot of places, law enforcement doesn’t need a warrant to unlock devices that use fingerprint or face recognition.

29

Trackers won’t work inside the safe since it blocks the signal. Instead, try putting a tracker inside something else in the safe. You could label it as something like ‘crypto wallet’ so it’s less likely to be tossed. If you care about quick access, the trunk might be best for a bigger safe, but under the seat is good if it’s compact enough.

I also think decoys work wonders. Keep a small lockbox visible with fake jewelry or a few coins to throw off a thief. I even have a decoy safe at home in my closet, with my real valuables locked up somewhere harder to find.

30

@Zayne
Thanks, this is great advice!

31

A lot of people bolt safes to the floor in the console or under a seat. Look into gun safes designed for vehicles.

32

Lock’er Down makes “long gun safes” that bolt under back seats. I have a console safe, and they’re pretty solid.