Crack downtown Ann Arbor's mysterious safe and 50% of the contents are yours, owner says
Owner of the Tower Mini Market said he will offer the person who can open this 8,500 pound safe half of the contents inside.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
He's now offering 50 percent of the contents to anyone who can crack the massive safe, which is believed to be at least 25 years old and up to 8,500 pounds.
“People can come by and try,” he said. “I’ll give them half of what’s inside if they do.”
Gneym — who has said that his landlord told him he could have the safe and anything found inside it as long as he moved it — hopes that someone will be curious enough to take a stab at cracking the safe.
“I’d love for somebody to come open it, but I don’t want to pay all the money for a locksmith,” Gneym said. “It’s a fun deal.”
Gneym said different locksmiths provided estimates of anywhere between $600 and $1,000 to crack the safe. He has already taken a hammer, torch and several other tools to the Fichet-Bauche brand safe.
Bill Loy, owner of the Campus Student Bike Shop next door to the Tower Mini Market, said yesterday that he would use his jackhammer to break open the safe. But that plan was scrapped after Loy was unable to locate the jackhammer today.
Before Gneym opened his convenience store on Maynard Street in May, Matthew Hoffmann Jewelry Design occupied the space. The jewelry store has since moved to Nickel’s Arcade and been renamed Ten Fine Jewelry & Design.
Ten Fine Jewelry owner Kris Keller said Matthew Hoffmann purchased the safe sometime in the 1980’s. Throughout the years, the combination and key to the safe were lost.
"When we went to move, the safe was too large to take so we left it because we didn't have the combination or the key," Keller said. "If there's something in it, I don't know, but it was going to cost us $1,000 for a safe-cracker to get into that."
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
AMML
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.
Originally $1000 professional opening would leave them with a working safe with new keys and combination. Now they have attacked it the safe will cost $1000 to open and then be scrap. If anyone does defeat all the locking devices the 1800lb door is just going to fall on them as the hinges have been cut. DOH Best just pay the $500 to move this beast to landfill.
Milton Shift
Sat, Jun 25, 2011 : 7:03 a.m.
Could always try tossing it off the roof...
aamom
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 2:43 p.m.
This safe is only 30 years old. Did anyone consider calling Matthew Hoffman to ask what is in it? Is he still living? If I felt the need to purchase a safe that big, I think I'd remember whether I filled it or emptied it.
jeanarrett
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
This seems to be obvious to me also--AA.com, have you attempted to contact him and ask him this question? That would seem to be "Step 1."
Jimmy McNulty
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 1:43 p.m.
0 divided by 2 = 0. I bet there's nothing in there.
Adam Zeeb
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
I moved back to the area from Vermont recently, and a similar old safe was found there a few years ago. Unfortunately it contained a box of old quarter sticks of dynamite. When the owner hired someone to cut it open with a torch, it blew up, killing several people and destroying a building.
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 9 a.m.
Worth a try around 3AM, then the contents would be all mine. ;-)
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 8:59 a.m.
Just when I thought Ann Arbor had lost its quirkiness...
Andrew MacKie-Mason
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 6:34 a.m.
<a href="http://xkcd.com/916/" rel='nofollow'>http://xkcd.com/916/</a>
Cindy Schneider
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 3:54 a.m.
Where's Geraldo Rivera when you need him.
treetowncartel
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
Time to film a Pink Panther movie in A2
treetowncartel
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 1:47 a.m.
As Bob Dylan said, when you've got nothing you've dot nothing to lose.
Kyle Mulka
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 1:05 a.m.
Here's a video of it being hauled away: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BCWxMAwquw" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BCWxMAwquw</a>
RunsWithScissors
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 12:26 a.m.
I've lost many things during my 50 years of livin' and kinda wonder where they went. This "safe" might be the repository of my lost items. So, in keeping with the owner's wishes, if you crack the safe you are entitled to half my socks, sanity, squandered youth, beauty, car keys, ambition, and brain cells. Good luck.
Alexander Mills
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
"If there's a body in there, can we get half the body?"
1st Down
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 11:41 p.m.
Somebody call Danny Ocean.
Wolf's Bane
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 11:12 p.m.
Go ask Mr. Hoffman for the key/combination? He is in Nickels Arcade.
Adam Jaskiewicz
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
My guess is some jewelry and cash. No more than $100 in cash and maybe $75 worth of jewelery. And maybe half of a 20 year old chicken salad sandwich.
shanedr
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 10:17 p.m.
This Yahoo was given the safe and he wants half of the contents? Either pay to have the safe opened or take it to scrap yard and let them deal with it.
John A2
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
what about a dead body. No one has said that yet have they? Either way, there's millions of different things that could be inside it.
xmo
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.
Maybe inside are President Obama's grades and papers from Harvard.
treetowncartel
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 1:49 a.m.
Or, his long form birth certificate
John A2
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 9:52 p.m.
I have laugh at that one.
JuliaAnnArb
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
Can I let my kids loose on it? They can destroy damn near anything, given some unsupervised play time.
Machine
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.
Leave it in front of the federal building and report seeing a mysterious package. They will cordon off the street and blow up the safe within a few hours.
Mick52
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
Great. Offer us half after you beat it up with a hammer, torch and several other tools. How about dynamite? It worked for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Mick52
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
Oops didnt see NUXI's post
kissthecobra
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 6:35 p.m.
What you do is call Louise at Fichet-Bauche @ +44 (0)1902 455 111 (this is in the U.K.) w/the serial number of the safe and ask if she can help by providing a duplicate key. This brain storm should be good for 20% off the top, don't you think?
NUXI
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 6:33 p.m.
Does the city mind if we open it by re-enacting a scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?
Adam Jaskiewicz
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 10:32 p.m.
That oughta do it.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 6:18 p.m.
" But that plan was scrapped after Loy was unable to locate the jackhammer today." Honey, did you take the jackhammer again? (to himself): Why does that thing always go missing anyway?
YpsiLivin
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.
Clearly, Mr. Loy has children, who "NEEDED" the jackhammer for a school project. The next thing you know, half of the jackhammer is laying in the middle of the living room floor, and the rest of the pieces are scattered. If I were him, I wouldn't buy another one. (And when the kids need another jackhammer, they can just rent one with their allowance.)
Tom Teague
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
Funny! Given the noise it would make, and who knows how long to open it, my suspicion is that a delegation of neighboring business owners and residents approached Mr. Loy and asked that he temporarily misplace the jackhammer.
lindsay erin
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.
I laughed out loud at this comment, too. Jackhammers are often misplaced around my house as well.
burton163
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 5:56 p.m.
"He has already taken a hammer, torch and several other tools to the Fichet-Bauche brand safe" Hilarious...did he really think a hammer was gonna work on a 8,500 lb safe?
tommy_t
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 5:40 p.m.
A jewelry business leaves a safe behind and You seriously expect it to have anything in it?? Hey, I got a bridge down off Huron River Drive that....
lindsay erin
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 5:35 p.m.
I'm telling you there are zombies in there. Don't ask how I know...
amlive
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 5:24 p.m.
A 1/2" drill and some cutting oil should give you a hole to fit a plumber's snake camera in, which would be a cheaper alternative to seeing if it's worth going any further in trying to open it.
gallery69
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 5:08 p.m.
How could the former jewelry store who owned the safe not know if there is anything inside or not?? Must be empty or the former owners would have paid to have it opened and or moved it to their new location.
Ricebrnr
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
I'm more than positive the AAFD has the tools to crack that sucker. Lord knows they can use anything of value in there.
SuperiorMother
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
I'm surprised that no locksmith has offered to do it for free. Seems like it would be a good opportunity for some free publicity.
lisam
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
Jimmy Hoffa?
Laiane
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
That's the first thing I thought...
Tom Joad
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
Anyone remember the Al Capone fiasco, starring Geraldo Rivera?
jns131
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 5:15 a.m.
I wasted 2 hours of my life on that stupid show and I think Geraldo really lost face with the public.
Tom Teague
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 4:52 p.m.
Wait, I've got it! We need a heavily accented large-framed villain, an assistant with an iron brimmed hat, and a giant "laser." Now only if the British Secret Service doesn't step in and mess everything up again .
Tom Teague
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 7:34 p.m.
Thanks clownfish. I thought maybe I was the only one posting who is old enough to remember Goldfinger. BTW, you've quoted the best line uttered by a villain from ANY James Bond movies. Followed closely by "You only live twice, Mr. Bond," I believe.
clownfish
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
"I expect you to die, Mr Bond!"
sirotan
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.
Obviously inside the safe is just another, smaller safe.
ArthGuinness
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 4:42 p.m.
Thanks for the update, Alfs!
YpsiLivin
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 4:35 p.m.
My bet is that the only things inside will be the combination for the safe and the key.
jns131
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 : 5:13 a.m.
I was thinking the same thing. I did that once, long ago. Weird how we do stupid things like that.
clownfish
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
LOL! good one, Sir or Madam.
Tom Teague
Thu, Jun 23, 2011 : 4:34 p.m.
Maybe the Chelsea Police Department could retrieve some of the grenades they found recently and use those. And, if they open it and find Bill Loy's missing jackhammer, will that confirm that Ann Arbor has entered a new dimension in time and space?