Home Safes, Your Options
Home safes are definitely a good idea, both for storing items of sentimental and monetary value but also for storing important documents like passports or bankbooks. Since identity theft is the fastest growing crime out there, it's important to be aware how crucial it is to keep your personal information secure.
Types of Home Safes
Wall Safes
Wall safes are mounted in the wall. These safes are usually narrow enough to allow installation between the typical 16 inch studs. You want to ensure you buy a system that gets bolted securely to the wall, so it would be difficult for the thief to simply remove the safe and take it with him. Electronic wall safes store the combination digitally which means you don't have to carry a key with you (or worry about leaving the key where the thief could find it).
Floor Safes
Floor safes are bolted to the floor so they cannot be picked up and taken away. Similar to wall safes, electronic versions are available.
Freestanding Safes
Freestanding safes are the worst kind of safe you can buy, because a thief can take it with him, then figure out how to open it at his leisure.
Today, you can get safes that read digital cards or fingerprints, so you don't have to remember a combination. Make sure you keep the card with you if you choose to go that route--don't leave it by the safe.
Also, make sure you only buy safes with a UL rating (Class A is the best, meaning it can resist both physical and fire damage at temperatures up to 2000 degrees). Expect cheap safes with low or no UL rating to be relatively easy to break into.
Also see: Buying a Safe