You never know what tomorrow will bring—but if it should be a home fire or a flood, any proactive measures you take will prevent losses. In addition to having and knowing how to use a fire extinguisher, you should also have a safe to protect certain valuables. The guide below looks at some of the most crucial items to keep out of harm’s way.

What Belongs in a Safe?

1. Stock Certificates

Stock certificates show your investment in part of a company, and they can be worth hundreds, thousands, or millions of dollars. Always keep certificates for stocks or bonds in your home safe and make sure they are organized and well-kept while in storage. For instance, don’t store stock or bond certificates where they could become pinched in the door since this could damage the document. 

2. Government Records

While many vital records like birth and death certificates can be duplicated by the government, it isn’t always easy to do, especially since you often need one form of identification to secure another. Therefore, keep records like social security cards and birth and death certificates under lock and key. 

3. Digital Backups

To keep your computer files from being destroyed in a natural disaster, back up your files electronically on a flash drive or an external hard drive at periodic intervals, and keep these devices in your safe. Ask your locksmith which safes are best for electronic devices, since some are designed with special protections to keep static electricity from building in the area. 

For more than 50 years, our locksmiths here at Lincoln Lock & Safe have been providing home and business owners of Lancaster County, NE, with lock and safe installation. We can also assist if you wind up locked out of your home or car—offering 24/7 service for emergencies. For more on our home security offerings, visit our website. Call (402) 475-0002 to set up an appointment.