Questions people ask
What cannot be kept in a safe deposit box?
The short answer
Safe deposit box agreements bar hazardous materials, perishable goods and anything illegal to possess, and some facilities also bar firearms. The rental agreement for each box sets the exact list, and the facility decides at intake whether an item is accepted.
The longer answer
Every safe deposit box agreement carries a list of things that may not go inside, and the lists follow the same logic. A box sits beside other renters’ boxes in a closed room. Anything that can burn, leak, rot or explode puts all of them at risk. Anything illegal to possess is out as well. Some facilities also bar firearms, and we are one of them.
Hazardous means what it sounds like: fuel, solvents, ammunition, anything flammable or corrosive. Perishable covers food, plants and anything that changes over time and can damage the box or the boxes next to it. Paper needs care too. A damp envelope of documents is a slow problem, so papers going in should be dry.
Illegal items include anything a person may not lawfully possess, and anything that is evidence or the proceeds of a crime. A box is not a place for something a court may want to see. We honor valid warrants, subpoenas and court orders, and whatever goes into a box with us is written on a signed intake inventory the renter keeps a copy of.
Our full list of items not accepted, beyond firearms, is TODO_FACT: full list of items not accepted. If you are unsure about one item, ask before the intake appointment. Packing small things in labelled envelopes or pouches makes the intake inventory easier to write, and easier to check against the box years later.
Items people ask about before a long absence
Firearms come up first. We do not accept them. What can lawfully be done with them before a sentence begins is a question for the defense attorney, and the answer is theirs to give.
Jewelry, watches, coins and bullion are ordinary box contents, and so are papers: titles, deeds, passports, birth certificates, a will. See jewelry, coins and bullion and documents, titles and deeds for notes on each. One thing to say plainly: we store, and we do not buy or sell metal.
Prescription medicine, phones and laptops are better left with the agent or a family member. Medicine expires. Electronics need charging to stay useful, and a phone is often what the agent needs to reach accounts on the outside. A box is also a poor home for anything the agent needs every month, such as a checkbook or a spare car key, since every visit is by appointment. If an item does not fit any category above, ask before it comes in rather than at the counter.