8 Places Burglars Rarely Search in a Home

Protecting your ValuablesAl Feldman
More than 2 million burglaries are reported in the U.S. every year – and 66% of them are residential. When it comes to home type and seasons, burglaries run the gamuts: Renters are just as likely as homeowners to have a break-in and although warmer months see a spike in home invasions, no season is safe. With this level of prevalence and unpredictability, it’s essential that every person protect his or her belongings. Once inside a home, smart burglars know exactly where to look first. You might think you were slick hiding your jewelry in the medicine cabinet or at the bottom of an underwear drawer, but those are actually a few of the first places burglars look when entering a home. Instead of leaving your items vulnerable to being found in common home hiding places, check out these more covert options instead:

1. Wall Safe

In their haste, burglars will typically pick up an entire movable safe and take it with them to try to open later. Prevent this by installing your home safe directly into the wall. A locked wall safe is secure from burglars on the run.

2. Floor Safe

Floor safes are hard for burglars to detect and won’t take up extra space in your home. The great thing about these safes is that even if the thieves find it, they’ll have an incredibly hard time trying to remove or empty it.

3. Safe Inside a Box

If you’re partial to your moveable safe, consider disguising it; instead of leaving it out in the open, put it inside a cardboard box and place a few blankets or toys on top before closing it. Arrange the box among others in a closet, attic, or basement so it blends in and is inconspicuous.

4. In the Pantry

Burglars simply do not have the time to search through all the food in a home. Place valuables inside a solid container marked for sugar or flour, and then place it towards the back of the cupboard or pantry.

5. In a False-Bottom Drawer

Add a false bottom to any drawer of the home for greater security for your valuables. Most burglars will not take the time to check to see if every drawer is as it appears, so adding a false bottom can thwart them as they rush from one drawer to the next searching for valuables.

6. Inside Toys

Hollow out old toys and use the space inside for jewelry, documents, and other prized possessions. One thing to consider, though: A toy that is out of place from other toys will stand out, so use toys that go along with the others in the collection. Leaving a toy full of valuables among other toys or in a child’s bedroom is not a wise idea, either — this option works best if there is a secure spot for toys where the hidden toy is not obvious.

7. In a Plant

If you don’t mind your hands getting a little dirty, wrap your valuables in plastic and hide them inside a potted plant. A burglar will likely not have the time or desire to dig for your items, meaning they will be more secure beneath the soil. Remember that while the plant may be able to hide some of your belongings, it cannot provide the same level of protection for your truly irreplaceable items as a home safe can when it comes to floods or fires.

8. At the Bank

Keeping some of your valuables away from your home is a great plan, if they are items you won’t need to access suddenly or quickly. Rent a safe deposit box at the bank and keep items there instead of in a hiding spot at home. Storing items at a bank takes more time and effort to retrieve them but depending on what you are storing, this might not present any significant issues. Ideally, your valuable belongings can stay locked up at home, in hiding spots from which you can easily access them but where burglars will never look. Installing one of our secure home safes and using these tips can provide you a high level of security and access. Contact the experts at Western Safe so we can help you pick the right safe for your security needs.
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