All of us work hard to acquire valuables and would do everything in our power to keep them secure. But the reality is that many valuables are often hidden in places where burglars easily find them. They know the hidden spots where you think your valuables are undisturbed.
In this article, we will discuss five hidden places in your house that should be avoided for storing valuables. We will also suggest better alternatives to them. So, continue reading this guide to protect your valuables from the eyes of thieves.
5 Common Worst Places to Hide valuables
- Under the Mattress or Bed
- In a Drawer in the Bedroom
- In the Freezer
- In the Closet, Hanging with Clothes
- In Bookshelves or Behind Books
(1) Under the Mattress or Bed
It is quite probable that you consider under the mattress as one of the secure areas to hide your valuables. But, unfortunately, this is one of the first holes that burglars may check. In a study by the University of Leicester, it was established that 30% of burglars look under the mattress while looting.
Why it’s a bad idea: While it may appear attractive to put your valuables under the mattress, it actually is inviting trouble. Your body pressure may tend to mash or deform the electronics or jewellery, for example. Moreover, the moisture gets trapped and in due time causes rust or good old degradation.
(2) In a Drawer in the Bedroom
Many of you might use a drawer in your bedroom to hide some items such as cash, jewellery, or small electronics. The National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association estimates that 40% of burglars check bedroom drawers first when they break into a house which more or less clarifies that this particular item will be stolen first.
Why it’s a bad idea: Opening and closing drawers frequently can damage fragile items through friction. Moreover, metal and paper objects can rust or decay due to brief exposure to moisture from wooden drawers. To ensure the safety of your items, consider moving them to a more secure location as drawers are exposed and very convenient to use.
(3) In the Freezer
A few of you might consider the freezers as a good money-hiding spots. Well! This is yet another area where robbers can asily search for. In fact, 15% of burglars, as reported by the National Association of Burglary Investigators, indicated that they examine the freezer while searching for valuables.
Why it’s a bad idea: Severe cold weather and condensation from opening the freezer can also harm electronics tghrouh the rusting of metals or inducing short circuits. Other factors may also contribute to the degradation of valuables over time. You might even be compromising the worth of your items while making them prone to theft.
(4) In the Closet, Hanging with Clothes
You might keep valuables in the closet, hanging with your clothes or in your bag. Although this may sound like a non-revealing area, it is frequently inspected by burglars. In fact, according to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, more than 20% of burglars admit to checking the closets of homes that they have entered.
Why it’s a bad idea: Closets are highly humid which causes metals to tarnish, rust or deform. Even clothing pressure can adversely affect sensitive goods like jewelry and temperature changes can ruin papers or documents.
(5) In Bookshelves or Behind Books
Many people use bookshelves as a place to hide valuables, especially if they put them behind ranged or hollowed-out books. But this is not a new trick for thieves as they know it as well. The FBI did an analysis which showed that approximately 10% of thieves consider bookshelves as a good place to find goods.
Why it’s a bad idea: Items that range from documents to electronics may become discoloured or damaged due to extreme changes in temperature and humidity when bookshelves are placed around windows or vents. Heavy books on theese shelves could also ruin or scratch delicate items.
Where to hide money at home: Safer Alternatives
The ideas above to place your belongings are all prone to theft so try on these options for safer storage and know how to hide your valuables.
- Obtain a Safe: One of the best ways to secure your valuables is to purchase a safe. If you are putting away files, consider a safe that is fully waterproof. Grainy furniture or other types of unusual items such as a removable wall panel or a closet can easily be transformed into walls that conceal these safes.
- They not only give physical protection to your valuables but also a controlled atmosphere.
- Diversion Safes: These devices serve the same purpose as an ordinary household item but serve a different purpose with a secret compartment inside. For instance, cleaning product bottles or cans are many household items that can act as safes to prevent thieves from gaining access to them.
- Secure Lockboxes: If you think buying a safe is going a step too far, then a lockbox might be a good option for you. The great thing with lockboxes is that you are able to conceal them in more hard-to-reach places, like behind a piece of furniture or inside a cupboard. By definition, lockboxes can be small enough to be placed in plain view but they can also be large enough to keep your important things in.
- Hidden Compartments in Furniture: Many different types of furniture, for example, coffee tables or desks as well as night stands, offer hidden sections that you can use to store valuables safely. When being burgled these places are much more difficult to locate than other areas in the house, so the security is higher.
Using one or more of these alternatives will greatly help in minimizing any environmental damage to your valuables.
Final Words
In a nutshell, contrary to popular belief that hiding valuables is a good idea, it is vital to keep in mind that burglars have perfected the process of finding ideal hiding spaces. For example, the first places a thief would check would be under a mattress, a freezer, and a bookshelf.
If you aim to keep your most valued items secure, then it might be a good idea to invest in a minimal safe. If you want to but a highly durable one you can contact us. Thus, you can relax knowing that your possessions are kept secure and safe.
