Think Twice Before Hiding Valuables In These Common Places In Your Home

It's hard to imagine ever being the victim of a home burglary ... until you are. Though nobody likes the thought of a stranger breaking into their home, rummaging through belongings and taking what's not theirs, such incidents are a common occurrence across the United States. In fact, according to the FBI's 2019 Uniform Crime Reporting Program, there were an average of 3,062 burglaries a day (or once every 35.4 seconds), for an estimated total of $3 billion in property losses.

Though home security systems like Ring (by the way, a super-successful business that rejected its "Shark Tank" offer) can deter burglars, all residents should take steps to carefully hide their money, jewelry (like those pieces from Tiffany & Co, a luxury brand that might not be worth the money) and other valuables they wouldn't want snatched in the event that a burglar does find their way inside.

While stashing cash and keepsakes under the mattress or at the back of an underwear drawer was once considered strategic, it's now seen as risky. That's because, over the years, burglars have gotten smarter and know which hot spots to hit first upon stepping foot inside a victim's home. If you want to leave burglars scratching their heads over where on earth you could've hidden the goods, it's best to avoid storing valuables in these common hiding places in the home.

Upon breaking into a residence, the majority of burglars don't make a beeline for the living room, where they can likely snag a television and other electronics. Rather, in an NBC New York poll of convicted burglars (via Reader's Digest), 75% said they'd head straight to the master bedroom, a space they've found usually produces a big haul.

A KGW (Portland) investigation poll (from 2017) of 86 convicted burglars, meanwhile, found the same, with the master bedroom also the first place they would look. Shared one burglar, "You always want to hit the bedroom first. You are going to have jewelry. The jewelry is usually in the bedroom," while another observed, "Most people keep all their valuables close to them where they feel they [are] most safe but in reality they are not."

Security experts recommend not hiding any valuables in obvious bedroom spots, such as under the mattress or inside a jewelry box or an eye-grabbing container, even one that's stored in the back of a drawer or closet. Though it's not in plain sight, home burglars have no problem rummaging through your stuff in order to track down what they're after. In fact, one burglar told KGW that they would also look for a "hidden wall, floor, or ceiling space."

Instead, if you must store valuables in the master bedroom, throw the burglars off track by putting them in an ordinary box labeled as something the intruder would have no interest in stealing, such as old baby clothes. Additionally, prized possessions can be stored in a sock(s), as the burglar is likely moving through the room quickly and isn't about to thoroughly check each pair.

We've established that the age-old under-the-mattress hiding spot for valuables no longer cuts it. But what about seemingly crafty spots, like the freezer? A burglar couldn't possibly think to look through the frozen veggies ... right? And shouldn't something sensible, like a safe, keep burglars at bay? Not necessarily. Skilled burglars know all the tricks (and hiding spots) in the book, so even newer tactics, like stashing cash and other possessions in the freezer, might not throw them off course. Plus, unless you properly store your valuables, the frigid temperature may ruin them over time before a crook can get to them. Still, if someone is set on stashing their valuables in the freezer, there's a way to do it.

Experts recommend concealing the valuables by placing them inside of something you'd normally find in the freezer, such as frozen vegetables. Use that mixed-vegetables or pineapple-chunks bag as a cover. Another seemingly sensible spot to hide valuables is, of course, in a safe. However, if it's a portable model, then this isn't going to do you any good, as the burglar can simply pick up and steal the entire thing. Instead, opt for a burglary safe, which are typically too heavy to lift. Also, consider a safe you can attach to the floor or wall. (This all being said, here's why making a home inventory can save you thousands.)