Packed with hilarious anecdotes and astonishing tales from those on both sides of the law, Richard Byrne's absorbing history of the safecracking industry reveals the whole fascinating story. From the earliest strong-boxes to today's hightech alarm systems, from standard dynamite to complex thermic lances, the battle between burglar and protector is timeless. Illustrated with photos, Safecracking is the definitive study of the history of that notorious criminal activity.