To protect your belongings, you need to think smarter than a burglar.
Whereshould you hide your valuables? No matter how well you hide your things, adedicated thief will no doubt try their best to find them in the few minutesthey take. However, there’s no sense in leaving your door unlocked for theirhappy pickings. Don’t give away your money and pieces of jewellery by hidingthem in the most obvious places possible.
Beforeyou can say you’re clever by hiding your money under the mattress, here aresome surprising and not-so-surprising places that burglars first check. Whetheryou’re protecting your cash, jewellery, or electronics, it’s best to readthrough these safety 101 tricks.
Common places burglars check
Fromyour entryway to your basem*nt, you’ll find that burglars can be thorough intheir search for valuable goods.
Entryway drawers and cabinets
Desperateand rushing burglars might not have the time to go through the other hotspotsin your house, so they’ll rummage through the drawers near your front door.Sometimes, they even hit the jackpot.
If youhave a car parked in the garage or right outside, don’t make the mistake ofleaving your keys near your entryway. That’s one of the easiest ways to saygoodbye to your car.
Manypeople also put emergency or back-up cash and personal documents in theentryway, making it attractive pickings for burglars.
Display shelves and vases in the living room
Youmight be displaying valuables and equipment in your living room to impress yourguest, but you’ll also be impressing would-be thieves. They will definitelythank you for showcasing the Rolex that your grandfather passed down to you.Having your valuables right out in the open is a huge risk to take.
Youmight think you’re smart by hiding things in plain sight, but you can trustthat thieves will definitely check. Even decorative vases won’t be leftunturned. However, putting in live flowers might throw them off the scent.
Under the mattress in the master’s bedroom
Almosteveryone hides something under their bed, thanks to the easy accessibility.It’s all good if you’re just keeping something there for a while as you sleep,but it’s not a great idea when you’re out of the house. After all, evenburglars will enjoy the easy accessibility of the mattress.
Becauseit’s so commonly used, burglars go all the way to the master’s bedroom eventhough it can be far from the front or back door. The drawers, closets, andspace under the bed are still quite lucrative for thieves looking for money andjewellery.
The medicine cabinet in the bathroom
Nobodyhides cash or jewelleries inside their medicine cabinet, but it’s still afavourite spot for burglars to look first. While they won’t find any preciousstones, they might be able to find prescription drugs that they can sell underthe table.
Prescriptionand controlled drugs, such as those for pain, can easily be sold for a greatvalue in the black market, unfortunately for you and your health.
Office safe and drawers
Asidefrom the master bedroom, the office or study is one of the first placesburglars check for valuables. Like the living room, some people have the habitof displaying valuables in their study shelves or office. That well-earneddiamond necklace can serve as a motivation for you to work harder.Unfortunately, it can also attract the attention of thieves.
Additionally,many homeowners put their safes in their bedroom or in their study. Bolted,high-quality safes can be more trouble than its worth for most burglars.However, safes that are portable with one-click combinations can be quicklytaken away. Because these safes are not bolted to the floor, burglars can justremove them and open the safes elsewhere.
Asidefrom safes, drawers are also prime hunting spots. People tend to put cash,personal documents, and essential items within easy reach. It’s best to investin high-quality locked drawers to deter theft.
Finally,equipment like laptops, speakers, and headphones are usually found in theoffice. Even without getting any cash or jewellery, burglars can be satisfiedwith expensive equipment that they can resell in the black market.
Kitchen freezer and cans
Forsome reason, hiding cash and jewelleries in the kitchen has become popular. Youmight think you’re clever by wrapping your valuables in a generic plastic bagand stashing it inside a freezer, but don’t be too confident. If you’ve thoughtabout it, a thief has probably thought about it too.
If aburglar has planned their raid with enough time, they’ll probably go throughyour freezer, cereal boxes, pantry, and even your dirty laundry just to hit thejackpot. As homeowners get smarter with their hiding places, so do thieves.
Basem*nt wine cellar
Itmight not seem like a common place to check for valuables, but sometimesthieves can just be interested in getting away with a drink. If you’re dealingwith burglars who are breaking and entering just for a good time, especiallymisguided youth, then they’ll probably be hitting the wine cellar too.
Keep your belongings safe from burglars
Fortunately,there are still ways you can keep your valuables safe from the sharp eyes ofburglars. One popular and still effective tip is to mix your valuables in boxesmislabelled (or correctly labelled) with something incredibly dull andworthless. Burglars are unlikely to go through boxes labelled “sister’sclothes” or “college textbooks.”
Anotherway to keep most of your valuables safe is to leave out a decoy or red herring.Leave a significant yet small amount of money in one of the apparent placeslisted above. It can trick burglars into thinking they’ve successfully lootedyour place. Because they won’t want to take additional risks, they’ll probablybe satisfied enough to call it a day.
Finally, a solid and high-quality lock and door system is a sure deterrent against burglars. Keep your Newcastle home safe and protected with the services of Ambassador Locksmith. With deadlocks, heavy safes, and state-of-the-art access systems, you’ll be more confident about protecting your valuables.
We also specialise in key cutting, re-keying, electronic locks, emergency lockout services, and many more. Contact Ambassador Locksmith at 0407 452 424 for more!
