A technique of
safe burglary by mechanical force without the use of
explosive or
oxyacetylene equipment.
(Note: The
combination dial may be knocked off to furnish a hole for the insertion of the ripping can-opener; or, a
rivet head may be driven away from the
steel sheeting to furnish the starting point. Often a slip pasted on the
back of a safe may reveal recent repairs, betraying the
weak point. The can-opener is inserted, a length of pipe slipped over it to give
increased leverage, and the other plating is ripped loose.
Hammers and chisels remove the
fire-brick and clay inside. If a duster or inner door is encountered, the same
ripping process is used, provided the locking mechanism is not readily accessible. Usually, ripping the other plate
enables
burglars to get at the
tumbler box, line up the tumblers on their rod, Smash them with a hammer blow, and
open the door. A crew often works over the weekend, having two or three days to work on difficult
safes and
vaults.)
Compare
Punch.
- american underworld dictionary - 1950