So my safe is locked, the batteries are dead and the key is somewhere on a beach about 50 miles away....

Sorry for the lack of photos, I documented this after the fact... needed my emergency cigarettes and the staple gun, also I wasn't throwing out twenty quid...

By the way this is entered in the tool tips month, don't know if it counts though, it does use tools in a different way but it's ultimately just busting in to a safe...

DISCLAIMER - I take no repsonsibility for any readers misuse of this information or any readers who hurt themselves attempting this, by reading this instructable you, the reader takes full responsibility for his/her actions.

EDIT: more photos added, I couldn't help but abuse the poor thing some more.

Step 1: Ripping It Open...

So you'll only need:

Baby flathead screwdriver

A larger flathead flathead screwdriver (about the same width as the keyhole)

A pair of pliers (you can do without)

A set of dextrous fingers... (you can learn how to have these, don't worry no opposable thumbs required...)

This should work on all cheaper safes, this one was a 5 hours fireproof, resistant to brute force and poking at through the bolt holes...

My brother forgot his code and it took me an hour of solid hammering with a 10lb sledghammer, this takes five minutes to half an hour, depending on how skillerd you are at prying...

Step 2: Remove the Faceplate...

So you need to remove the plastic faceplate.

Try kicking it from the side... that may knock it off, I eventually resorted to prying it with a screwdriver simply because mine was a bit low on the profile for kicking...

as a tip save the keypad, that way you can replace the batteries and it will still work afterwards...

Step 3: Getting Rid of the Lock...

So My idea was to rip the keylock apart and pull the mechanism with my hands, turns out that won't work but you need to remove the keylock...

So removing the keylock isn't too compicated, safety goggles are probably a good idea but not necessary if you're of a more dangerous mindset...

Take the larger screwdriver, shove it into the key hole and pry sideways, the first bit will take considerable force. Now use the little screwdriver to remove the retainer ring on the outside. Now continue this process to take the lock apart layer by layer, eventually you'll run out of lock to pry apart, at this point you'll want to knock it out, easiest way is to put the screwdriver in on top and hit it with the palm of your hand... It's only a thin retainer reing holding it and it wont matter if the lock mechanism falls inside...

Extra images now added.

Step 4: Now Opening...

So now we have a nice hole in the safe...

Take your index finger and put it in the hole pointing towards the lock (the palm of your hand should face towards the handle). Use your free hand to jiggle the lock by the handle and feel along the mechanism until you come to a pin, it should be spring loaded. Nwo push the pin in while turning the lock, if it doesn't come free then you have more pins to pop in, hold the handle to keep the first pin from going back in to place and follow along the mechanism pushing in the pins until the lock turns. Now use the hole for the lock as a handle to open the safe since the door is likely to be heavy.

Step 5: You're In!

So you're in to your safe, if the lock was any bother to undo then you may aswell keep it and replace the batteries and change the cod on the keypad... since the keypad is on the inside...

So after further investigation this safe has a fair amount of salvagable parts:

3x LEDs, red, green, yellow
Large solenoid
handy keyboard circuit and board that I may use to make a door lock...
A nice battery holder hold 4x AA's
A pretty tough lock mechanism
some nice heavyweight hinges
a thin bit of foam from the floor.
A dead lock that makes a nice prop for film projects and the like.