There's a total of twelve special safes to be unlocked in the world of Thief, and laying your hands on the right code can often be a case of fumbling through documents that you'd really rather not read. That's where this section of the guide comes in.
While a lot of the game's special loot can be found tucked away in crawl spaces and hidden rooms, the most valuable items are locked up safely - or so the owner thought - inside these safes. If you're struggling to complete a collection, take a look through our easy reference guide to unlocking every last safe in the game.
You'll find this safe tucked away behind a painting inside the Jeweler's Shop. You'll have to infiltrate this shop as part of the main campaign quest, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting inside. Once you're in, make your way downstairs and into the basement where the Jeweler's tinkering away.
It's up to you whether you want to knock him out or just cause a distraction, but either way you'll have to get your hands on a document called Lygrove's Letter - you'll find it on the workstation he's toiling away at. If you examine this document, you'll find the code you need for the safe: 7-3-9.
You can only gain access to this safe by accepting the special side mission called Basso's Beauty Within - you won't encounter the location while playing the game's main campaign. Leave your hideout to enter Clock Tower Plaza, then find Miss Scarlett's Town House over by the Clock Tower Bookbinders.
When you enter the premises, Miss Scarlett herself will be fast asleep, but keep a close eye out for her father who checks in on her frequently. He's very easy to take down, so knock him out and then get up on to the house's main floor.
The safe you're looking for is over on the southern wall, and you can get the combination to the lock by looking inside the cabinet by the northern wall, on the right-hand side. Use your Focus ability if you're struggling to make it out in the gloom.
You'll find this safe inside the Workshop while you're playing through the Dust to Dust mission. The three different parts to the combination are located all around this area. The first is written on the back of the mechanical man, the second is on the metal skull that's on the chair, and the third is simply a case of trial-and-error. Or you can just cheat and use the combination 3-1-4 to get inside and bag Unique Loot (3/9) - Soul of the Automaton for yourself.
The next safe to have a rummage around is located in Baron's Way South. As it's not a part of the main campaign quest, or any of the many side missions in the game, it can be tricky to find. Once you get to the Baron's Way part of town, head south and then keep your eyes peeled for a ladder that you might be able to lower.
When you find it, fire a Blunt Arrow towards it to bring it crashing down to earth. Climb up it, but don't take the obvious route of the open window when you get to the top. The real target you want to get towards is the closed window just further along to the south - prise it open.
Once you're inside, you'll need to use the in-game date to open the safe. That date can be found on the newspaper nearby, but if you just want the code, it's 8-4-2. There aren't any special collectible items in here, but there is some tasty loot inside - and every penny counts, after all.
When you play through the main campaign, you'll eventually find yourself in a secret chamber belonging to Madam Xiao-Xiao. It's located just beyond her office, and you'll encounter it as you play through Thief's main campaign. The code you need to gain access to the safe is actually written on the documents scattered all over the brothel.
If you just want the short answer, go to the safe and use the combination 5-7-3. Just like the previous safe, you won't get your hand on any collectible items here, but you will get a valuable necklace and pocket watch. Well worth the extra effort!
Once again, this is a safe that you'll come across while working your way through the main story mission of Thief. The combination code you need is actually located in the Architect's Study, an area you explored a little earlier. Once you've found The Great Safe inside the safe chamber, you'll need to first of all reset the lock's mechanism. Do this by pressing the buttons on either side of the safe itself. Just make sure you run quickly over to the other side after pushing one of them.
Just like the last safe, you'll encounter this one when you make your way through the story, although you won't necessarily visit this room if you're in a rush. As soon as you get to the asylum's treatment floor, switch on the generator to restore power and start looking around the rooms. Just keep an eye out for the dangerous patients who are wandering around.
Check the plates on the door to find room 3E, then enter it and go towards the safe on the wall. In case you didn't pick up the little note from earlier on in the walkthrough, use the combination code 7-3-1. Inside the safe you'll find a collectible item: Serendi Stone Circles (5/7) - Ivory Circle.
First of all, you need to accept a job from Basso called Check Mate. You can get to the Mourningside area by going through the door right by the Shady Merchant. Keep an eye out for two people keeping warm by a brazier, then climb your way up the crates, pry open the window you come to, and slip inside Archie Maxwell's House.
You now need to make your way down into the basement of the house, but watch out for the owner Archie who's wandering around his home (the nerve!) - knock him out or sneak away from him, whatever you find easiest.
As well as an unwelcoming occupant, you'll also have to be very careful to avoid the traps that are littered all over the basement. When you find the safe on the wall, use the combination 7-7-6 to get it open. Take the chess piece from inside the safe to finish up Basso's Chech Mate job.
You'll come across this safe while exploring the Baron's mansion during the main story. You'll be able to get the combination code you need from a guard patrolling the library, but if you'd rather just have the code now, it's 8-8-9. Just be prepared to deal with the two soldiers guarding the first-floor safe - distract them both, or just knock them out to get inside. Once you've opened the safe, you'll be able to loot a special item called Serendi Stone Circles (6/7) - Sapphire Circle.
You'll find this safe in the western hall, just after witnessing the guard being killed by a Graven. You've got no choice but to knock the hall guard out, but once you're inside you can use combination code 0-1-7 to open the safe. There aren't any special collectible items in here, but there is some valuable loot to be had.
This is another section of the game you'll find yourself wandering through while completing the story, but it's pretty easy to miss the safe altogether. As soon as you've finished your long ride down in the lift, you'll see three guards patrolling overhead. One of those guards will eventually disappear down a tunnel, and it's inside that tunnel that you'll find the safe.
First things first, you'll need to visit Vittori and pick up the Carnal Connoisseur client job from him. Once you've got the job in your log, make your way into the Wine Cellar, then look for the safe which is hidden with two triggers behind a painting.
You'll find the combination on two different documents you collect during the mission. Or you can just cheat completely and enter the combination code 8-1-2 to open the safe and gain access to a secret door. Go through that door to get your hands on lots of lovely loot, not to mention the all-important item: Client Loot (7/8) - Octopus.
To find many of the rare items in Thief you'll need to do a lot of exploration. If that seems like too much of a chore we've cracked them for you. Read on for techniques and the combinations to all 12 safes.
You'll need to head into this jeweler's shop as part of the main story, so finding this safe should be no problem. Creep into the basement and deal with the jeweler either by knocking him out or distracting him and grab a document on his workstation called Lyegrove's Letter. Head to the southwest corner and find the safe behind a painting. The combination is 7-3-9.
You need to do the Basso's Beauty Within side job to get this safe, located in The City. Head to the Clock Tower Plaza and Miss Scarlett's Town House near the Bookbinders. Miss Scarlet is catching Zs but her old man can be a bit of a pest, so blackjack the old fella and head to main floor where you'll find the safe on the south wall. The combination is 8-2-4 which you can find in the cabinet on the north wall.
Easy stuff - the safe is inside the workshop but the combination is spread out. You'll find one number on the back of the mechanical arm, the second on the mechanical skill on the chair. The third number is just a case of trial and error until the lock pops. Or just enter 3-1-4. Bingo.
This safe isn't part of the main game or side mission. Head south to Baron's Way South and look for a ladder that you'll need to lower by shooting a blunt arrow at it. Climb up and prise open a closed window (ignore the open window). The combination is on the newspaper - it's the day's date, 8-4-2.
You can't progress the story without opening this safe and the combination is found earlier in the chapter inside the architect's study. The Great Safe is inside the keep in the safe chamber (the name gives it away). Reset the lock mechanism by pressing on one side of the safe and quickly doing the same on the other side. The combination is 3-1-9 on the left and 0-1-8 on the right.
Another area that needs visiting in order to progress the chapter, but the room where the safe hides is optional. Inside the asylum you need the treatment level and while there turn the generator to investigate the different rooms. Room 3E has a safe on the wall and you should have found the combination on a note earlier in the chapter. It's 7-3-1.
Start Basso's Check Mate side job and head to the Shady Merchant where you'll see two people hanging around near a brazier. Step up on the crates and pry open a window into Archie Maxwell's house. Head to the basement avoiding Archie. Look out for traps and the safe is on the wall with the combination 7-7-6.
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