How secure are Snap-on Tool boxes

[RCS1300]

I have acquired a lot of tools over the last three years - 5 socket sets, dozens of ratchets, all kinds of wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, pry bars, 4 cordless impact tools, 1 corded impact tool, diagnostic tools, etc. Mostly SK, Gearwrench, and Snap-on. Approximate weight of it all about 500lbs. Presently they all have their own small plastic boxes and I have three big plastic tool boxes carrying the rest.

Need to get some security because it would be really easy for a repair person or visitor to put one or two SK socket sets under the arm and walk out.

Thinking of moving it all into a used Snap-on KRL722 or KRL7022. I live in a town home with a walk in private single car garage located in an urban area. My question is how secure are those boxes to prevent walk away of tool kits and walk away of the entire box (548-600 lbs unloaded) with the tools?

 

[maxpower_hd]

Secure enough to prevent people from nosing around but not secure enough to prevent planned theft. For example, I ordered two keys for my Snap On box from Snap On. It was a used box set and I didn't have the key to the top. Now I do. See where I'm going with this?

But to keep people honest they are fine. You're not going to just pull hard and get a drawer opened but one could break into one.

 

[NUTTSGT]

A lock keeps an honest man honest. If somebody wants your stuff, they will find a way to steal your ****.

Take all the precautions you want and do some reading here reguarding garage security and you'll find some great information.

 

[Brian_WK]

About as secure as your house...

Prevents ****** and grabs and keeps out your buddies...

Brian

 

[rsanter]

Secure enough for what you want to do

Bob

 

[sberry]

Snap is the most sought after to steal.

 

[red94chev]

By "walk in private garage", do you mean it has no garage door? If so, I would not sit a Snap-on box in there as it would be begging to get stolen. If it has a garage door that locks, then I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Snap-on but I would probably keep it under a cover to keep passer-bys from eyeing it up (with being a townhome type nieghborhood).

 

[kelpaso1]

I can pick the locks in mine in about 5 seconds with a bent up paper clip.

 

[Firebrick43]

If you flip them upside down they unlock as well. Depending on how big or how many tools two guys can easily flip a box in a min. Tools out and in the back of a pickup in 3-4 min. 4 guys can lift the whole box in 30 sec. Remove the snap on logo

 

[Firebrick43]

I can pick the locks in mine in about 5 seconds with a bent up paper clip.

Yours have the tubular locks??

 

[RVDan]

I accidentally locked my keys in a drawer, that drawer wasn't all the way closed when I looked the box the night before. In the morning I pulled that drawer open, dropped my keys in, and closed the drawer, then I heard the lock bar jump and latch.

Took me about ten minutes to get into it without damage.

 

[Nexussian]

It depends, if you are trying to "keep honest people honest" beyond that there is only so much you can do.

Remember, if it's got wheels on it, it's only so difficult to steal.

I've seen a slide back wrecker used as well, takes about 2 minutes to load and tie down, and it's not like the wrecker driver can ask for license and registration for a toolbox.

 

[RCS1300]

By "walk in private garage", do you mean it has no garage door? If so, I would not sit a Snap-on box in there as it would be begging to get stolen. If it has a garage door that locks, then I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Snap-on but I would probably keep it under a cover to keep passer-bys from eyeing it up (with being a townhome type nieghborhood).

It has a garage door but there is always the worry that the wife would leave it open, by accident, after backing out her car to run errands. So, then it would be exposed to some pedestrian foot traffic.

Maybe I assume incorrectly, but I was thinking a Snap-on box would be more secure than a Harbor Freight box. I could cover the Snap-on logo as my main interests in the box are made in the USA, sturdy construction,
well thought out build, and security.

 

[RCS1300]

Thank you for all the posts. It seems the box is not as secure as I thought from a lock standpoint. And, that picture of a backup, winch, pull and roll away was a little unsettling.

Got to think some more about this one. The used box at $2,800-3,300 costs almost as much as my entire tool collection. So, if someone walked away with my entire collection - probably 10 one person loads - I could replace it with new for the cost of the used box. Hmm...

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Honestly, you could use "public's impression" of Harbor Freight toolboxes (ie US General) to your advantage.

Having a . . . . US General . . . . toolbox in view might not be at big an attraction for thieves as a new Snappy if the wifey leaves the garage door open. People just don't know how nice the HF/US General toolboxes are constructed.

If you have room for it, I'd just get the 56" Harbor Freight roller. You'll have plenty of room for tools, and less likely that perp would ****** your toolbox !!

Better way to secure the entire box might be drill holes in concrete floor and epoxy in some bolts that attach angle-iron bolt down attachment. Doubt that perp would take time to unload each drawer of tools (inside Harbor Freight/US General), and/or unbolting the attachment underneath.

 

[RCS1300]

^ ^ ^ Honestly, you could use "public's impression" of Harbor Freight toolboxes (ie US General) to your advantage.

Having a . . . . US General . . . . toolbox in view might not be at big an attraction for thieves as a new Snappy if the wifey leaves the garage door open. People just don't know how nice the HF/US General toolboxes are constructed.

If you have room for it, I'd just get the 56" Harbor Freight roller. You'll have plenty of room for tools, and less likely that perp would ****** your toolbox !!

I looked into the HF box and have two issues with it. First, no so sure the resale will be as good with a HF box as with a Snap-on box. Second, after breaking a few Chinese made tools a few years ago I have sworn off Chinese built tool and tool related items unless I positively, absolutely have no other choice.

As far as attractiveness to thieves, I would be better storing my tools in the camouflage of plain cardboard boxes than any tool box, even a HF box. In my opinion, to the average person, tools are tools and any box full of tools is attractive if one wants tools.

 

[rsanter]

Well you can buy a snap on box for $3000 and when you sell it you may only get $2400 for,it.
You can buy a HF box ( which are actually rather decent) for $350 to $800 depending on which one you get. When you resell it you may only get half back so,you are still out less money in the end.

If you are a home shop guy with the number of tools you describe then you may never need to sell the HF box to upgrade.

You want it more secure? Bolt it to the wall and put a wood top on it to use as a workbench and they won't be rolling it away

Bob

 

[70staged]

That didn't take to long to start talking about Harbor Freight tool boxes.

 

[RCS1300]

That didn't take to long to start talking about Harbor Freight tool boxes.

I absolutely did fully consider the HF box after reading many posts about it. At my age, 56 years, no more Chinese stuff. I would be really unhappy with it even though it may work great.

Leaning towards the Snap-on used box and do not mind a $800 loss when selling, if I need to sell. I did bolt my safe to a cement floor, I can probably bolt some type of steel bar to the garage cement floor to keep the Snap-on box wheels from moving and dramatically slow down a smash and grab/roll-away event.

 

[wafrederick]

Here is another way a Snap On toolbox can be open still locked without a key,

 

[sberry]

I looked into the HF box and have two issues with it. First, no so sure the resale will be as good with a HF box as with a Snap-on box. Second, after breaking a few Chinese made tools a few years ago I have sworn off Chinese built tool and tool related items unless I positively, absolutely have no other choice

Well you can buy a snap on box for $3000 and when you sell it you may only get $2400 for,it.
You can buy a HF box ( which are actually rather decent) for $350 to $800 depending on which one you get. When you resell it you may only get half back so,you are still out less money in the end.

If you are a home shop guy with the number of tools you describe then you may never need to sell the HF box to upgrade.

I am with you, always wonder how many have graduated 4th grade math. I am interested in how much more secure one box would be than the other with a different brand name on it and it shows where it as really worth the effort to invest in marketing. I would say they get about a 10 to 1 return.
I could park 2 cars on the south side, a 10 yr old mini van, a Kia and a new Mercedes, which one is more secure?
The fear of loss can be overwhelming, this is where the real money is at in tools and sales, when we can be convinced it actually makes sense to put a 5 grand box over 2K of tools.

 

[RCS1300]

...shows where it as really worth the effort to invest in marketing. ...when we can be convinced it actually makes sense to put a 5 grand box over 2K of tools.

Marketing and product differentiation works because the overwhelming majority of people consider many variables in a purchase of which price is only one. Made in the USA is a very important variable to me. Price is another variable, quality is another variable...you get the point.

 

[sberry]

I just cant remember a thread where someone said,,,, they came in and stole my HF44. Never heard a reliable account where someone wasn't fairly impressed since it cost only 400 and a couple case where they been beat like rented mules.

 

[firworks]

Here is another way a Snap On toolbox can be open still locked without a key,

Wow that is surprisingly simple.

 

[RCS1300]

I just cant remember a thread where someone said,,,, they came in and stole my HF44. Never heard a reliable account where someone wasn't fairly impressed since it cost only 400 and a couple case where they been beat like rented mules.

No doubt the equivalent HF US General box 56" model at $800 is a good price value and a smart $$ decision.

 

[Coolabah]

I can pick the locks in mine in about 5 seconds with a bent up paper clip.

Yours have the tubular locks??

I would think not ? The tubular locks are way above my league ( I have had to pick simple locks in the past eg eg my desk drawer , but apparently tubular locks are pretty specialised !

 

[Nexussian]

I would think not ? The tubular locks are way above my league ( I have had to pick simple locks in the past eg eg my desk drawer , but apparently tubular locks are pretty specialised !

When I bought my Matco box years ago, tubular or "barrel" locks were the minimum (economy) option with the multi side groove keys being the upgrade (in the more expensive line of boxes).

Snap On had similar levels, but, at the time they had an economy roll away that still had "normal" keys.

If you are concerned about cost, and have an interest in a given brand, such as Snap On, hit up your local dealer, they take older boxes on trade when someone has outgrown them and is buying new.

As others have mentioned, the initial depreciation from new is almost as bad as a new car (ie 1/3 off when you drive off the lot, or some other larger than anyone likes to think about fraction).

If you have a lock preference, tell whomever you are shelling with, but don't get too hung up, a few minutes with the right kind of hole saw in any kind of power drill (cordless or corded) will defeat all I have seen.

 

[unslow1]

If you are worried about any toolbox being rolled away take the wheels off. If it's on 4x4s or bricks I doubt anyone will try to take the box. Opening it is another matter.

 

[rice rocket]

4 guys can lift the whole box in 30 sec. Remove the snap on logo

You just need more tools.

 

[Nexussian]

4 guys can lift the whole box in 30 sec.

You just need more tools.

I know a guy that keeps an unsecured pile of ballast in one corner of his box, under the lower drawer, just to prevent that type of thievery.

 

[Bellaireroad]

I have acquired a lot of tools over the last three years - 5 socket sets, dozens of ratchets, all kinds of wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, pry bars, 4 cordless impact tools, 1 corded impact tool, diagnostic tools, etc. Mostly SK, Gearwrench, and Snap-on. Approximate weight of it all about 500lbs. Presently they all have their own small plastic boxes and I have three big plastic tool boxes carrying the rest.

Need to get some security because it would be really easy for a repair person or visitor to put one or two SK socket sets under the arm and walk out.

Thinking of moving it all into a used Snap-on KRL722 or KRL7022. I live in a town home with a walk in private single car garage located in an urban area. My question is how secure are those boxes to prevent walk away of tool kits and walk away of the entire box (548-600 lbs unloaded) with the tools?

whats your address?

 

[04chase]

you can get this too.

locks your box to the floor


https://store.snapon.com/Floor-Lock-Kit-Kit-Lock-Floor-P872227.aspx

 

[Stuart in MN]

Throw a tarp over the box when it's not in use. If the garage door gets left open by mistake, it will draw less attention - passerby will just think it's a pile of stuff like most people have in their garages.