Safecracker
A Chronicle of the Coolest Job in the World
Book
Paperback/Softback
248 pages
978-1-4930-7629-1 (ISBN)
Description
Like a character in a Hitchcock movie, Dave McOmie travels the country breaking into bank vaults, cracking jewelry store safes, and decoding unbreakable codes secured deep in government facilities. He's never been arrested or charged with a crime, because - it's his job!
Safecracker reveals a shadowy world where tumblers are twirled, skeletons are exposed, and longstanding mysteries are solved. You'll ride shotgun with Dave for one crazy week, beginning with an impenetrable vault in Vegas with a midnight deadline, and ending with Prince's ultra-secure music vault in the basement of Paisley Park. In between are factual stories that read like fiction: drilling the same model ATM from the notorious episode of Breaking Bad; meeting a mystery man from the Department of Defense at a remote location to crack two high security safes; chronicling the corruption and ineptitude that dogged efforts to develop the first electronic safe lock to guard our national secrets; tackling a hundred-year-old antique bank vault in downtown Salt Lake City, and more....
What's in all these safes and vaults? Gold and silver, drugs and cash, guns and ammo, family heirlooms and X-rated paraphernalia. And a few secrets that should have remained secret.
Shhhhh!
Safecracker reveals a shadowy world where tumblers are twirled, skeletons are exposed, and longstanding mysteries are solved. You'll ride shotgun with Dave for one crazy week, beginning with an impenetrable vault in Vegas with a midnight deadline, and ending with Prince's ultra-secure music vault in the basement of Paisley Park. In between are factual stories that read like fiction: drilling the same model ATM from the notorious episode of Breaking Bad; meeting a mystery man from the Department of Defense at a remote location to crack two high security safes; chronicling the corruption and ineptitude that dogged efforts to develop the first electronic safe lock to guard our national secrets; tackling a hundred-year-old antique bank vault in downtown Salt Lake City, and more....
What's in all these safes and vaults? Gold and silver, drugs and cash, guns and ammo, family heirlooms and X-rated paraphernalia. And a few secrets that should have remained secret.
Shhhhh!
Reviews / Votes
NetGalley Review: 5 starsLast updated on 16 Jun 2021
"This is a fascinating look into the life of a professional safecracker. To be honest, before seeing this book, I had no idea there was such a profession, let alone such a significant need for it. The author's stories about some of his more notable experiences were interesting and told in an engaging way. While a non-fiction book, this book read more like a novel.
"I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject or simply learning about something outside of their own experiences."
-Linda Quick, Consumer Reviewer NetGalley Review: 4 stars
Last updated on 17 Jun 2021
"This was a quick read that was written well. The author had a great sense of humor and told the stories well. While it was the technical in parts, it was all easy to understand. The stories blended well together and the author seems like a fun guy to hang out with."
-Kelly Burns, Reviewer at Montana Public Library NetGalley Review: 3 stars
Last updated on 18 Jun 2021
"I received an advance copy of, Safecracker, by Dave McOmie. This is a very interesting book, about a very interesting man, with an interesting job."
-Sheila Treacy, Consumer Reviewer NetGalley Review: 5 stars
Last updated on 27 Jun 2021
"Who knew there was such a thing as a safecracker? I mean I know they are in movies but..... This book was fascinating I kept interrupting my husband to read him parts. He was intrigued as well. I plan to buy a copy for my brother because I know he will enjoy it as much as I did. I know it is non-fiction but you wouldn't think that while reading it. It reads like a novel and you want to see what's next. Great book. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me a chance to read a book I probably would have just walked by but now I need to know more about this job!"
-Annette Herbst, Librarian at Columbia Country Rural Library NetGalley Review: 4 stars
Last updated on 28 Jun 2021
"Dave McOmie has to have one of the coolest jobs. From the time as a kid with his fascination safecracker in a television series he was attracted to the profession as a safecracker which lead to apprenticeship as a lock smith and a safecracker. Can you imagine having a job getting paid to crack safe and not go to jail ? He goes on to being if not the best one of the best. He was even an editor and publisher of a magazine to pass on trade knowledge and particular jobs. This book covers various jobs he was called out on. You would not think there were so many callouts or jobs for safecrackers or technicians. This is a fast and fun read. The only downfall I see with this book is I wish there would have been a few more illustrations. Thank you to Netgalley and Rowman & Littlefield for an ARC for a fair and honest review."
-Thomas Kelley, Consumer Reviewer NetGalley review: 4 stars
Last updated on 03 Jul 2021
"Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. This book isxa look into theclife of David who is a safe cracker which is a very unusual job. This book was very informative and I learned a lot about what it takes to open a safe. This book was well written."
-Laura A, Consumer Reviewer NetGalley Review: 5 stars
Last updated on 07 Jul 2021
"I feel like Mission Impossible music should be playing along with the review. This book is biographical and suspenseful. This book and Dave McOmie's story are so cool! This book really has everything. I can't wait to buy it in the future."
-Meaghan Babin, reviewer at Meaghan Reads Books NetGalley review: 5 stars
Last updated on 07 Jul 2021
"Reading this was like watching a movie all about different heists. Even though everything was on the up and up it still felt like being able to hover over a master criminal as they were on the job."
-Morgan Schaer, Consumer Reviewer NetGalley Review: 5 stars
Last updated on 11 Jul 2021
"Thank you NetGalley, Dave McOmie and Rowman & Littlefield for the digital copy of Safecracker. This is my personal review.
Ok this book made me say WOW I want to go to work with him for a day!
Dave McOmie was fascinated by seeing safecrackers in a television when he was young. This is what lead him to an apprenticeship as a locksmith and safecracker. He becomes on of the best paid in people to crack safes and do it as a job!
I was so fascinated by this book that I can not wait to buy copies for family and friends as a gift."
-Nancy Baumer, Consumer Reviewer
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Guilford
United States
Publishing group
Rowman & Littlefield
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
23 BW Photos
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-4930-7629-1 (9781493076291)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification