| A drop
safe, also known as a depository safe, allows deposits
to be made by anyone, but access to the interior of the
safe is only available to authorized persons. A drop safe
is ideal for businesses that handle large amounts of cash
or small valuables such as jewellery on a daily basis. A
drop safe is also suitable for businesses that accept non-returnable
deposits such as payments made by cash, check or money order.
Drop safes are designed for temporary storage only - the
opening to the outside makes them much easier to break into
than a burglary rated safe. You should periodically move
the contents of a drop safe to more secure storage. For
example, if your business handles large amounts of cash,
you might leave the deposits in the drop safe during the
day, but move them to a more secure, burglary-rated safe
at night. Another consideration is that, again due to the
opening to the outside, a drop safe is not fire-rated. This
is another reason that you should only use a drop safe for
temporary storage.
There are three main types of drop safe. These types differ
mainly in the way that the drop mechanism works. The first
type typically has a slot on the front of the safe where
the "drops" are made. The slot has a baffle attached
to it on the inside, to keep anyone from "fishing"
the contents of the safe back out through the slot. The
second type uses a hinged hopper on the front of the safe,
much like the corner mailbox or night deposit at the bank.
This type allows for larger items to be dropped into the
safe. There is also a baffle attached to the hopper mechanism
to prevent fishing. The last type, the rotary hopper, provides
the most secure drop mechanism. The rotary hopper is mounted
on top of the safe, and the hopper must be rotated 180 degrees
when something is dropped into the safe.
One type of drop safe that is especially convenient is
one with a dual-door arrangement. This type of safe is divided
into two sections - the top half has a door that gives access
to the contents that have been deposited, while the bottom
half provides more secure storage with no way in from the
outside.
There are a number of other features to look for in a drop
safe. One is a dual-custody key system. This system requires
two keys to open the safe, typically referred to as a “supervisor”
key and a “guard” key. Another feature is an
electronic keypad locking mechanism. This provides for more
convenient access to the safe - the user simply enters the
combination or "pin" number on the keypad to open
the safe. Electronic audit locks are also available. An
audit lock allows an "audit trail" that shows
when the safe was accessed and by whom. This information
can be viewed on a local status display or on some models
can be uploaded to a personal computer.
Other features to consider when choosing a drop
safe are the overall size and shape and the arrangement
of the interior. Some models offer convenient storage of
cash drawers, which is ideal for a retail setting. If your
business handles large amounts of cash or jewellery or you
accept non-returnable deposits that are valuable, then a
drop safe could be the answer to your security needs.
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