Best places to hide valuables at home

First Posted: April 4th 2023

Last Updated: 21st January 2025

Have you ever wondered where burglars turn to first if they successfully attempt a break-in? If you’re looking to protect your home whilst you’re away for a long time, you’re worried about crime in your area or if your home is a target for burglars, then you may want to take some extra precautions to keep valuables safe in your home. From peculiar hiding spots to adding home security systems, we’ll dive into some of the most stolen items from homes, where you could hide your valuables at home, and other ways to protect your possessions from potential intruders and keep your home and family secure.

What are the top stolen items during home break-ins?

Burglars tend to know what they’re looking for and may attempt to break in on the assumption that you’re out of your home. They’ll usually look for “quick wins”, but might also steal items of high value to pawn later on. You may be surprised to hear that things like prescription medications can sometimes also get stolen - which could again be sold illegally elsewhere or used recreationally.

The items burglars are most likely to steal upon breaking into a home include (but are not limited to):

• Cash and wallets - these have “quick” value

• Watches and jewellery

• Electronics, such as:

  • Laptops

  • Cameras

  • Mobile phones

  • …even your grand 65” TV isn’t safe!

• Prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications

• Cars on driveways

• Clothing

• Furniture

• Financial and personal documents

• Bicycles and motorbikes

• Tools and work equipment

10 of the best places to hide valuables at home

Hiding your valuables in clever places won’t completely protect your valuables, but you may be able to trick burglars by popping them in less-obvious hiding places. Here are some of the best places to hide valuables at home

1. Safes

Safes are designed to be hard to crack by burglars, and in most cases, can be incredibly heavy to lift. 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. Speaking of lofts…

2. The loft

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 - just be sure to reinforce valuables stored in a loft by using the correct containers to protect against unwanted moisture and creepy crawlies.

3. Food containers

Think cereal boxes, empty drink cartons or packets of rice and pasta. It’s easy to hide, say, a set of spare house keys in a ‘bits and bobs’ drawer full of takeaway handouts and other miscellaneous items - but this can be an obvious area to look through. Instead, consider hiding them in food containers out on the counter or in the back of cupboards, where burglars are less likely to rummage through.

4. False bottom drawers

Drawers are likely to be rummaged through upon a break-in. However, burglars are less likely to suspect that a full drawer has a false bottom. Consider building a false bottom in your drawers so that you can store your valuables within.

5. Back of drawers

This is especially useful for drawers on a drawer slide or track that require tilting and lifting out of the structure carefully. If there is space at the back of the drawer, you could attach valuables to the back of it - somewhere burglars are unlikely to notice, even if they are rummaging through your drawers.

6. Old paint pots

Have you given your walls a lick of paint recently? Don’t throw out the tin, and instead, use it as a place to store some valuables. This is one of the most perfect ways to store valuables in plain sight, like valuable tools in a secure shed or garage. Just be sure not to store everything in there, in case the whole lot is stolen by chance.

7. Plumbing pipes

Not real ones, of course! However, 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.

8. Inside books

Have a bookcase full of weird and wonderful stories? Hollow out an old book that you don’t care too much about, to create a secret compartment for hiding valuables - such as passports, spare keys or jewellery. Place it back on a shelf among other books to blend in seamlessly.

9. Under the stairs 

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 - just be sure to make sure your secret compartment doesn’t creak or squeak, unlike any other step! 

10. Inside the freezer 

Storing cash in the freezer seemed to be such a 90’s movie cliche, but nowadays it's a place burglars are unlikely to check. Place small valuables in a waterproof container or bag, and hide them inside a bag of frozen vegetables, one that doesn’t get eaten often by the family. This is especially useful for hiding valuables that don’t require frequent access.

Other ways to protect your valuables at home

Whilst every precaution can be taken to prevent break-ins, motivated burglars could still find a way.  That’s why it’s important to be aware of what burglars look for, so that you can store your valuables in safe and inconspicuous places. 

However, there are other ways you can protect your valuables at home, even after you’ve hidden them.

1. Invest in a home security system

It’s important to build a home security system with sensors and wireless cameras - one that can cover all areas of entry, keep an eye on suspicious behaviour outside of your property and secure any vulnerabilities that burglars could take advantage of to sneak into your home. Plus, they can also trigger alerts when activity is suspected, which can allow you to view footage in real time, record it for evidence and even alert the surrounding area and local authorities. Home security systems can include a wide range of features and devices, such as entry sensors which alert to doors and windows being opened, and glassbreak sensors that pick up the sound of broken windows.

2. Install a bell box

In the event burglars do make it into your home, a bell box can omit a loud siren to cause a panic and alert your neighbours of a break-in. The sight of one may just be enough to deter a burglar, but a rookie may not know what this device is, and they’ll be in for quite the shock when the alarm starts blaring.

3. Get a video doorbell

Video doorbells are another great home security device, perfect for seeing who’s at your front door - be it a postman, friends, family, or a stranger. If you suspect someone is prying through any windows in your front door, attempting a doorstep scam or trying your door handles, then you can record this through your doorbell camera as evidence - particularly important if the stranger shows up again to peer through other entry points to your home.

4. Consider a professional alarm monitoring service 

Did you know that you can add a professional alarm monitoring service to your home security bundle? With 24/7 professional monitoring, you can rest assured that no matter where you are, or what you’re doing, there is a team of experts keeping an eye on your home who can visually verify and request police response to any potential break-ins or parcel thefts. 

The professional monitoring service can also help protect your home against flooding, fire and extreme drops in temperature when you expand your system with other sensors. 

Learn more about how professional monitoring works, through our helpful guide.

5. Redirect your parcels

With home delivery now easier than ever before, your home can be prone to having a pile-up of parcels which could attract the wrong attention. Instead, opt for a Click and Collect option so you know your parcels are in a secure location. If you’ve opted for Royal Mail delivery, then utilise Royal Mail Keepsafe’s service to keep your parcels safe. Alternatively, if you’re able to, select a delivery option for when you know you’ll be at home to receive your parcels or request them to be posted to a trusted neighbour for safekeeping.

6. Time your lights

Burglars know full well that they may be more likely to get away with more damage if you’re out of the house. Instead, opt to time your lights using timers or app-controlled smart bulbs to give the illusion of someone being at home. This can act as a deterrent in itself, and a burglar may think twice before attempting to break into your home if they believe someone is there.

7. Reinforce doggy doors and cat flaps

Adding a doggy door or cat flap is a great way for your furry friends to make it in and out of your home. However, installing them can automatically add a weakness to your door, by giving burglars an entry point where they may be able to hook around it and open the door from the inside. If your pets are microchipped, you can install a sensor that only allows the flap to open when your pet approaches it. This can also be done with smart collars, too. 

Finally, be sure to keep valuables away from this area too, like backdoor keys, so burglars can’t attempt to snatch them through the flap.

Now you know how to hide valuables at home - you may want to consider additional home security to keep them extra safe. Contact SimpliSafe today to find out about our home security systems or explore other resources on our blog to learn how to keep your home secure.