The best place to store your money and valuables is in the bank.  But for those items that you want to keep in your house, there are some hiding places that even seasoned burglars won’t look in.

Keep in mind that when a thief breaks into your house, he has two goals:  (1) get money or valuables and (2) get out fast.  That means he is going to search your house until he finds something or until he feels like he has run out of time—usually about 10-15 minutes.

Hiding places to avoid

Some so-called great hiding places are so overused that even criminals know about them.  You’ll want to avoid hiding valuables in the following places:

• freezer
• refrigerator
• toilet tank
• anywhere in your bed
• cereal boxes
• under the cat litter

These are some of the places that burglars will go first.  They will also search your closet and the drawers in your dresser.

Better hiding places

However, you can outsmart the thieves by getting creative and putting forth a little effort.  Here are some savvy ways to protect your valuables:

• Your child’s room:  Because children’s rooms are usually just full of toys and clutter, burglars don’t spend a lot of time there.  When they do go in to your child’s room, they are looking for specific, easy-to-spot items such as game consoles.  Try concealing your valuables inside a stuffed animal or other toy that is seldom played with.
• Inside a book: Choose a book from your bookshelf that you never read and cut a hole inside throughout the pages.  Put glue into the hole so that it holds its shape, and put your valuables inside.  Alternatively, you can choose several books, cut out the middles and then glue them together.  When set upon your bookshelf, they will create an empty space inside in which you can hide things.
• Fake electrical outlets:  Purchase a deep outlet box from a hardware store.  Cut a hole into your wall, place the outlet box inside, put your valuables into the box, and cover with an electrical outlet cover.
• Air conditioner vents:  Since these are usually screwed in, a burglar is unlikely to take the time to remove vents all over the house looking for money.
• Under your carpeting:  Wall-to-wall carpeting is a great place to hide money.  Pull back part of the carpet, place your money under the carpet or pad, and smooth the carpet back.
• Throw pillows:  It is relatively easy to open up and re-sew part a section of seam on a throw pillow.  This gives you access to the inside of pillow to store valuables.
• Toothpaste tube:  Cut open the flat end of an empty toothpaste tube.  Place your valuables inside and then roll up the flat end a couple of time.  This gives the appearance of a partially used tube of toothpaste.

Again, the best place to store your valuables is in the bank.  But there are plenty of hiding places to outwit burglars. Take a look around to find other creative areas in your house.