What do we like for small locking storage for college dorm rooms? Looking to lock up small items like credit cards, wallet, etc. Thank you

A small safe from Walmart, two shelves, about 2'X 2' X 2', is fairly inexpensive, fire resistant, and will hold 12-15 pistols, depending on how you set up the interior. Any small safe can be picked up and moved, but a solid safe will move only with assistance or some difficulty. It's also fairly easy to disguise or hide under something else.

It's easy to build dividers inside for pistols; I did one using the rubber floor mats that you can find at harbor freight; cut them with a utility knife, hot glue them together, and you have a padded, divided interior custom made to whatever you want.

I believe Sentry makes a number of them that can be found for about 150 at Walmart.

I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade, but Youtube is replete with videos about how to quickly and nondestructively break into big box store safes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33T4GOtB-U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjrTTlxWTIY

Locks keep honest people honest.

College students don't usually come equipped with a large budget.

https://youtu.be/3SVMT_zNlgA

Nearly 40 minutes, but very entertaining.

Scroll towards the end if you want his recommendation.

The bottom of my two-foot-high safe is weighted down with ~100 lbs. of lead ingots. (They fit in the space between the bottom shelf and the bottom of the safe proper.) If anybody is going to just cart it off and bust it open at their leisure, they'll have to at least work at it a little bit.

Fort Knox pistol box with Simplex mechanical lock. Designed to be bolted down, but with a little ingenuity you can rig up a security cable.

quote:

Originally posted by gocatgo:
Fort Knox pistol box with Simplex mechanical lock. Designed to be bolted down, but with a little ingenuity you can rig up a security cable.

+1. I have this one and love it. Very well built and fast to access

I bought both of my kids Stack-on hotel/dorm PS-508 safes for college. I realize it is not going to keep out a determined thief, but it will keep out a sticky fingers college kid. It is big enough to keep laptops and other items the kids want in there. The only people that can get through the security have to be signed into the dorm and have to leave ID with security.

You might consider a SnapSafe (Amazon link).

Inexpensive yet good quality. The box comes in 3 sizes. The cable can be upgraded if desired.

While not as secure as a 2-ton safe, it might be enough, and can be easily used in multiple locations (eg. dorm, car, hotel).

quote:

Originally posted by gocatgo:
Fort Knox pistol box with Simplex mechanical lock.

This.

I used to have one when I had little kids in my house. Now that I don't, I gave it to my son to store a pistol at his apartment he shares with roommates.

Fort Knox or V-Line or FAS1 all offer simplex lock durable pistol safes. They are not for keeping “criminals” out per say but for keeping, kids, The uninitiated and the irresponsible out. Probably would deter a smash and grab as well if bolted down.

Honestly to keep a determined thief with any skills out you are gonna need a SAFE and I don’t mean your average big box store gun safe either.

I have had a PistolPal (no longer in production) which has the 5 button Simplex lock for 28 years now. It kept my new to me 14 year old stepsons hands off of my bedside gun.

These days I usually keep it unlocked, except when the grandkids are visiting. I believe it is just common sense to keep kids, and even curious guests from being able to access your firearm when you are not right there.

The simplex lock on handgun vaults is a durable, battery free, long term solution.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade, but Youtube is replete with videos about how to quickly and nondestructively break into big box store safes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33T4GOtB-U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjrTTlxWTIY

I have one of the Sentry safes. The small one about the size of a phone book and 10-12" thick, I can and have opened it simply by sticking a straight screwdriver where the key goes and turning the lock. No security whatsoever.

quote:

Originally posted by gocatgo:
Fort Knox pistol box with Simplex mechanical lock. Designed to be bolted down, but with a little ingenuity you can rig up a security cable.

This!! Or the V-Line which is similar.

Appreciate the suggestions guys. Being that she is taking TWO laptops (that's another story) I'm thinking a box big enough to lock them up would be nice.

there is nothing that college kids like to do more than cause or solve problems.

get a locker at a storage facility

You do realize with a simplex lock someone can go through all the combinations in a few minutes.

quote:

Originally posted by gocatgo:
Fort Knox pistol box with Simplex mechanical lock. Designed to be bolted down, but with a little ingenuity you can rig up a security cable.

quote:

Originally posted by F12517:
Being that she is taking TWO laptops (that's another story) I'm thinking a box big enough to lock them up would be nice.

First it was "small items like credit cards, wallet, etc." Now it must hold "TWO laptops". Possessions always expand to fill the available space.

She and her mom came up with this plan, my job is to make it happen. They wanted a small box to lock things in. If I can find one that will secure her computers, so much the better. My spawn loves her Apple mac book, but her engineering program wants a Windows based laptop, thus the two computers.