The Most Bizarre Things Ever Found in Old Safes You Won’t Believe

There’s something weirdly thrilling about opening an old safe. Maybe it’s the mystery, maybe it’s the locked-away history, but sometimes what’s inside is just... bizarre. From forgotten relics to strange surprises, here are some of the weirdest things ever found in safes:

1. A Travel Safe Inside Another Safe

In a bizarre twist of irony, one locksmith in California opened a rusted home safe only to find a smaller, fully intact travel safe locked inside. No one knew how it got there or what it was originally used for — talk about layered extra security. Sadly, the inner safe was empty… but still locked.

2. A Stack of Monopoly Money (and Nothing Else)

A vintage home safe at an Ohio auction turned heads for an unexpected reason: inside was a neatly stacked bundle of Monopoly money, tucked away as if it were real cash. Auction staff were initially intrigued, thinking the safe might contain forgotten savings. Instead, they found colorful play money arranged with care—each bill flattened, organized by denomination, and secured with a rubber band.

Speculation ran wild. Was it a prank pulled by the previous owner? A banker’s inside joke? Or someone’s tongue-in-cheek version of an emergency fund? Some even guessed it may have been used to teach children about finances or as part of a long-forgotten board game night gone too far.

Whatever the reason, it was a reminder that not every safe holds treasure, but every one tells a story. And sometimes, the strangest finds are what we remember most.

3. A Mummified Iguana

Yes, really. A man in Arizona discovered a long-dead pet iguana inside his grandfather’s old compact safe. It had crawled in and been trapped for decades. The safe hadn’t been touched in over 20 years. The smell? Unforgettable.

4. A Love Letter and a Diamond Ring

One of the more touching finds: a sealed envelope addressed “To my future wife” with a vintage engagement ring. No names. No date. Just a quiet little heartbreak locked away for decades.

5. A VHS Tape Labeled “DO NOT WATCH”

Of course someone watched it. The contents? A 1990s family karaoke night, featuring off-key renditions of Backstreet Boys. Whether it was hilarious or haunting depends on your taste.

At ISLANDSAFE, we help you protect the things that matter, whether it’s old love letters, backup drives, or whatever you decide to lock away. Whether you're using a small home safe, a biometric safe, or a travel safe while abroad, just know: the next person to open it might have questions.