The 9 safest places security experts say you can hide valuables at home

[lightbright]

Behind False Electrical Outlets

Creating a fake electrical outlet is one of the most ingenious hiding spots that security experts recommend. You can purchase dummy outlet plates online or convert an existing unused outlet into a secret compartment. The best places to hide valuables are those that burglars don't want to search through or wouldn't bother with, including places that are inconvenient or difficult to search, messy, or uninteresting.

This method works because burglars rarely have time or tools to investigate every electrical component in your home.

Professional installers suggest mounting the fake outlet at knee height or in less obvious locations like hallways or behind furniture. The key is making it look completely normal while ensuring easy access for yourself. Remember to clearly mark which outlet is fake so family members don't accidentally damage it during home repairs.

MSN

 

[lightbright]

Inside Hollowed-Out Books
Criminals tend to be uneducated, which is why they've turned to crime to make their living. They're practically allergic to books! This makes your home library one of the safest places to conceal valuables.

Create a secret compartment by carefully cutting pages from an old hardcover book using a craft knife and ruler. Choose a book that blends in naturally with your collection – not something that stands out as unusual or particularly valuable.

If you have only a couple of books on a bookshelf, this may be a clue that they're actually hiding places for your valuables, so make sure your library is large enough to serve as a tedious place to search. Position your fake book somewhere in the middle of your collection, not at eye level where it might be easily spotted. Waterproof the interior with plastic bags to protect documents and small valuables from moisture.

 

[lightbright]

Behind Kitchen Cabinet Toe Kicks
There's a four-inch-tall cavity under all those kitchen cabinets behind the toe kicks. It takes a few carpentry skills, but you can pull the toe-kicks free and make them removable. This hiding spot is particularly brilliant because it utilizes dead space that burglars never think to check.

You can store plenty of valuables under two average-size cabinets, making this an excellent option for larger items or emergency cash reserves.

The installation process involves removing the quarter-inch plywood toe kicks and creating a removable access system using hook-and-loop tape. Stick both halves of round hook-and-loop self-adhesive tape to the toe kick. Then, push the toe kick into place.

The adhesive will stick to the cabinet base and leave half of the hook-and-loop tape in place when you pull it free. This method provides excellent concealment while maintaining easy access to your valuables.

​

 

[lightbright]

In Fake Plumbing Pipes
If you have exposed piping or an airing cupboard where your boiler is, installing a fake plumbing pipe can also double up as additional storage space for hiding valuable items. Try to match the look, material and colour of your existing pipes so that they're less easy to spot. Security experts love this method because it hides valuables in plain sight while appearing completely functional.

You can hide money, documents and other valuables in your basement. Only a plumber would ever question it. Creating a fake PVC drain pipe is surprisingly simple and effective.

The key is making it look authentic by positioning it near existing plumbing and ensuring proper proportions. Use waterproof containers inside the pipe to protect valuables from condensation and humidity.

 

[lightbright]

Under Stair Treads
It takes some effort, but if you can, free a tread from your stairs. Then, attach a piano hinge to the back. It'll be almost invisible and you'll have a good small hiding place to stash valuables.

This method transforms ordinary stair construction into a secret storage system that's virtually undetectable.

By now, we've all seen the trend of people building discreet shoe storage within their stairs. However, instead of shoe storage, you could instead create a hidden compartment under the stairs. Burglars are unlikely to be checking each step if they're quickly racing through your house.

The key is ensuring the modified step doesn't creak or feel different when stepped on, maintaining the illusion of normal stairs.

 

[lightbright]

In Attic or Loft Spaces
Lofts are hard-to-reach places. Even if gaining access is straightforward, like with easy pull-down ladders, burglars will want to complete their in-and-out job quickly. Use your loft to its advantage by storing valuable items up there.

Burglars typically spend less than ten minutes inside homes, making difficult-to-access areas like attics excellent deterrents.

Professional security consultants recommend using proper containers to protect against moisture, temperature fluctuations, and pests in attic storage. Create multiple small hiding spots rather than one large cache – this way if one location is discovered, you won't lose everything. Install battery-powered motion sensors as an additional security layer for valuable items stored in remote areas of your home.

 

[lightbright]

Behind Wall-Mounted Artwork
Hanging artwork provides excellent cover for wall-mounted safes or simple envelope storage. Consider storing your safe in places that may seem less obvious to a burglar, like in the floor, behind wall art, in a kitchen cupboard, on bookshelves or inside a loft. The psychological impact of artwork creates a natural deterrent – burglars typically focus on searching furniture and obvious storage areas rather than examining decorative elements.

Choose heavier frames that won't shift easily and position them at comfortable access height for yourself. Create envelope pockets taped to the back of frame backing boards, or install small safes recessed into wall cavities. Ensure the artwork's weight distribution remains natural to avoid suspicion from casual observers or potential intruders examining your home.

 

[lightbright]

In Basement Utility Areas
Integrate your safe into laundry room cabinetry or behind appliances. The utility-focused nature of this space makes it an unexpected yet practical location for valuable storage. Basements and utility rooms provide multiple advantages: limited visibility from outside, natural noise cover from appliances, and typically cluttered environments that discourage thorough searching.

Do you have a cluttered office room, storage attic, or even the laundry room? Instead, think about your defense as areas that potential thieves wouldn't think to look in. The organized chaos of utility areas creates perfect camouflage for hidden valuables.

Use existing infrastructure like water heater enclosures, behind electrical panels, or within storage shelving systems.

 

[lightbright]

Using Professional-Grade Floor Safes
Floor-mounted safes represent the gold standard for home security experts. Invest in a quality safe: Get a safe that can be bolted to the floor or wall, and consider one that has biometric technology, keypad locking, or a standard safe dial. Monitor your money with motion sensors or cameras: If you do have a bolted-in safe, consider adding an extra layer of security with a motion sensor or camera pointed directly at the safe.

Recent statistics show that homes without a security system are 300% more likely to be broken into and burglarized. A significant percentage of homes lack security systems. Professional installation ensures proper anchoring and optimal placement.

Consider locations like closet floors, behind furniture, or integrated into existing flooring – anywhere that provides both concealment and structural support for the safe's considerable weight.

​

 

[lightbright]

Why These Locations Work
Understanding burglar behavior explains why these hiding spots are effective. According to FBI statistics, a break-in occurs approximately every 30 seconds in the US. Most home break-ins occur during the day, with peak times between 10:00am and 3:00pm. Weekdays typically see the highest burglary rates, with Monday through Wednesday being particularly common.

Time pressure forces burglars to focus on obvious locations first.

Burglaries take much less time than most people assume - on average, only eight to 10 minutes, per the FBI. Professional security experts emphasize that burglary is a crime of opportunity. And burglars don't want to spend a lot of time looking through a home to find things of value to steal, which is why there are obvious locations that they always check. The most successful hiding strategies exploit this time constraint by creating obstacles that require tools, knowledge, or excessive time investment.

The evidence consistently shows that creative concealment combined with proper security systems provides the best protection for your valuables. These expert-recommended hiding spots work because they challenge burglar expectations, utilize unused spaces, and blend seamlessly into normal home environments. What initially seems like paranoia actually represents smart preparation – after all, nearly one in every two hundred homes experiences burglary each year, making these precautions a worthwhile investment in your family's security.

 

[lightbright]

If I had large loot, I'd have to get one of these.....

 

[Maxxam]

 

[lightbright]