Paragon Lock & Safe - 7875 Depository Safe .67 CF Cash Drop Safes Heavy Duty

What it is and who it’s for

The Paragon drop safe is a compact, .67 cubic foot depository safe designed for quick cash and document drops without opening the door. It’s built around a simple idea: keep cash moving out of sight and into steel as the day goes on. For small retail counters, home offices, or shared spaces where you need controlled access and quick deposits, it hits a very practical sweet spot—provided you understand its limits.

Physically, it’s a dense little box: about 13.75 x 9.75 x 9.75 inches on the outside, around 29 pounds, finished in a dark gray powder coat. The body is 11‑gauge steel with concealed hinges, which gives it a sturdier, more pry-resistant feel than the usual thin-sheet lockboxes in this price band. The slot on the front measures roughly 6 inches wide by 0.5 inches high—good for bills, checks, and receipts, but not thick items. Rolled coin, cash envelopes with bunching, and key fobs won’t pass through the slot. Inside, the 13.5 x 9 x 9.5 inch cavity easily takes letter-size documents and small valuables.

Setup and installation

Out of the box, I had everything needed to get running: a keypad panel powered by 4 AA batteries (included), two override keys, and anchor bolts for mounting. Programming the keypad is straightforward, and it supports both a master and a guest code between 3 and 8 digits. The dual-code approach is genuinely useful: set a master for yourself, then rotate a guest code for staff or family members who need access for limited periods.

Mounting is the most important step. At 29 pounds, this safe is easy for a thief to pick up if it’s left freestanding. I strongly recommend bolting it to something solid—ideally a concrete floor or a stout wood substrate that’s tied into framing. The safe has predrilled holes in the bottom and back, so you can orient it for under-counter, floor, or wall mounting depending on your workflow. I mounted mine under a counter to keep the slot accessible but the door blocked from easy leverage. Use large washers and quality anchors if you upgrade the included hardware.

Everyday use

The deposit slot does exactly what it should. Cash drops are quick, and the opening is narrow enough to discourage wandering fingers. In daily use, the ability to slip bills through without keying in, opening the door, and relocking saves time and keeps temptation down. It’s ideal for skimming larger bills or end-of-shift deposits into a more secure spot than a till.

The keypad experience is basic but functional. Button presses register with a clear beep and LED feedback; you’ll know when the code is accepted, and you can set codes to the length you prefer. The override key lives behind a small pop-off cover—useful in a pinch if the batteries die or you forget a code. Two tangible tips from use:
- Keep the override keys away from the safe, ideally offsite or in a separate secure cabinet.
- Use good batteries. Quality alkaline or lithium AAs reduce headaches, especially if you don’t access the safe daily.

There’s a built-in alarm that chirps after three incorrect code attempts (about 20 seconds), escalating to a longer alarm after subsequent failures. It’s audible enough to get attention in a small office but not so loud that it causes chaos. Consider it a tamper notification, not a full-on siren.

Security, honestly

Viewed as a deterrent and a process tool, the Paragon safe does a solid job. The 11‑gauge steel shell and concealed hinges resist casual prying and hinge attacks better than thin-gauge budget boxes. Mounted correctly, it’s not trivial to remove in a hurry.

But it’s important to be clear about what this safe is not. It’s not rated for fire or water protection. It’s not UL-listed as a burglary safe. And the deposit slot lacks an internal anti-fish baffle, which means it’s theoretically possible to “fish” lightweight deposits with improvised tools if someone is determined and has time. A few practical mitigations I’ve adopted:
- Deposit money in sealed deposit bags or envelopes, then angle the safe or mount it where gravity doesn’t help a fishing attempt.
- Keep the safe out of public sightlines; under-counter mounting works well.
- Use the safe for short-term cash control and transfer to a higher-security safe or bank regularly.

Within those boundaries, it’s a meaningful upgrade over a register drawer or petty cash tin.

Build quality and reliability

Fit and finish are respectable for the price. The powder coat is even, edges are deburred, and the door closes squarely. The locking bolts engage positively, and the concealed hinge design helps avoid the “bend the exposed hinge” attack that plagues cheaper boxes.

The weak link, unsurprisingly, is the keypad. In my time with it, the keypad worked as expected, but it has the telltale feel of a budget membrane—soft buttons and the occasional press that needs a firmer touch, particularly along the lower row. That’s not unusual at this price, but it’s something to watch over months of frequent use. Two habits help:
- Set a shorter code (4–6 digits) to reduce wear on individual buttons and speed entry.
- If the keypad behaves oddly after a battery change or a misprogramming attempt, pull the batteries, wait a moment, and reinsert to clear the state before reprogramming.

Also, turn the override key gently. It only needs a small counter-clockwise twist to disengage the lock. Forcing it like a door key is a quick way to damage the cylinder.

Workflow notes and limitations

A few practical observations from daily use:
- The 0.5-inch slot height is the gating factor. Folded bills and receipts are fine; coin rolls aren’t. If rolled coin storage is part of your routine, plan to open the door for those.
- The interior space is generous enough for passports, small electronics, and document folders, but the door opening is smaller than the interior footprint—large rigid binders may need to angle in.
- There’s no interior light. If the safe lives under a counter, a small stick-on LED puck or strip helps a lot.
- The alarm is useful as a nudge, but it won’t deter a serious intruder. Think of it as a process control: it alerts the room if someone is fumbling with the keypad.

What I’d change

If I could tweak one thing, it would be adding a simple anti-fish baffle behind the deposit slot. Even a partial plate would complicate retrieval attempts without impacting the ability to drop bills. A second choice would be upgrading the keypad hardware for better long-term reliability and tactile feedback. Neither change is deal-breaking, but both would elevate trust in daily use.

Who will get the most value

• Small retailers and food-service counters that need frequent cash drops during shifts.
• Home offices that want basic, anchored storage for documents, cash, and small valuables.
• Landlords, clubs, or teams that rotate access—thanks to the master/guest code setup.

If you need certified burglary resistance, fire protection, or evidence-grade tamper resistance, this isn’t the right tool. Step up to a rated safe with a true depository chute and baffle, preferably with UL certifications, and budget accordingly.

Recommendation

I recommend the Paragon drop safe for low- to medium-risk environments where the goal is disciplined cash control and basic, anchored security. It’s easy to install, genuinely useful day-to-day, and sturdier than most budget lockboxes. Mount it properly, use quality batteries, keep the override keys secured elsewhere, and be mindful of the slot’s limitations. If you need higher security, fire protection, or a fully anti-fish depository design, plan to spend more on a rated safe. For the intended role—quick deposits and a meaningful step up from a drawer—it’s a practical, cost-effective choice.