7 places burglars look for valuables

When burglars break in, they don’t have time to search everywhere. This means they tend to hit the most obvious hiding spots first. When it comes to protecting your home and belongings, understanding where burglars look for valuables can help. 

This guide answers the question, “where do burglars look for valuables in your home?” Here are seven common places burglars often check, and how you can best protect your home from break-ins.

Where do burglars look for valuables?

1. Under the mattress or bed

It’s one of the most clichéd hiding spots, but people still use it, so it’s often one of the first places where burglars look for valuables. Cash, jewellery, and important documents are often hidden under mattresses or inside bed frames, but these spots are easy to access, quick to check, and well-known to thieves.

What to do instead?

It’s a good idea to store your most valuable items in a secure safe or lockbox that is bolted down.

2. In drawers 

Dressers, bedside tables, sock drawers… These spots in bedrooms are a favourite. While it may seem smart to hide small valuables amongst other nondescript items, a burglar is likely to ransack these types of drawers.

What to do instead? 

If you need to store items or paperwork in a drawer, opt for something that is lockable, whether that’s the drawer itself or a lockbox inside a drawer. Just remember that a portable lockbox is still vulnerable to being carried off and opened later with tools.

3. In the kitchen

Where do burglars look for valuables in your home? When trying to answer that question, people get creative with the answer. The freezer, pantry, and other food storage areas may seem like a clever place to hide valuables, but burglars have wised up to this trick. These kitchen spots are often searched during burglaries.

What to do instead?

Avoid hiding valuables in food storage spaces; it’s better to use secure safes, places that require more effort to reach, or places that cannot be turned over in a hurry.

4. Entryway drawers or cabinets

Hiding places near the front door are a hotspot. When we arrive home, we often place items down just inside the house. But where do burglars look for valuables? Unfortunately, in the exact same spots. Drawers and cabinets in this area can often yield wallets, keys, and even phones, and burglars know this.

What to do instead?

It’s best not to leave any important items in these spots. If you must, consider a safe that can be bolted down. Home security systems can boost your entryway extra protection and deter thieves from even considering your home.

5. Living room shelving units and inside decor 

Living rooms often house expensive electronics, such as TVs and consoles. Art and decor may also be up for grabs in these areas, and people tend to hide small valuables in or on shelves (think, ‘safe keys in a decorative vase’). These make for common places where burglars look for valuables.

What to do instead?

If possible, secure your TV to the wall, and place any other electronics inside lockable cabinets. Avoid hiding small valuables in shelving units, and opt for blinds or net curtains in ground-floor rooms to reduce visibility from outside.

6. Home offices

Home offices are treasure troves for burglars, often keeping laptops, headphones, and valuable documents like passports. Burglars will often target these rooms if they find them. For this reason, it’s essential not to leave valuables out in the open, if possible.

What to do instead? 

Store important documents in a secure safe, and put away valuables when not in use. If possible, keep home office doors locked when they are not being used.

7. Behind or inside everyday items 

Vases, picture frames, and decorative containers are often used as hiding spots, but thieves know this too. These types of hiding places are common spots where burglars look for valuables.

What to do instead?

Aim for less obvious hiding places if you cannot use a safe, and consider making the act of hiding valuables just one part of a more layered security approach that uses alarms or cameras to deter burglars.

Additional tips to make your home less tempting

• Keep valuables out of view of windows and doors.

• Use curtains, frosted glass, or film to obscure the view from outside.

• Keep external doors and windows fitted with good-quality locks.

• Use timers on lights when away.

• Neighbourhood watch, CCTV, external lighting, and alarm signs all help deter opportunistic theft.

• Use safes that are heavy, fire- and water-resistant, and securely fixed so burglars can’t walk away with them.

Secure your home the smart way

Knowing where burglars look for valuables is one thing, but even well-hidden items can be vulnerable to a burglar who gets in and has time or opportunity. Adding a home security package is a stronger deterrent for theft, and a better system of protection should a burglar enter. 

SimpliSafe offers a range of home security systems designed to protect your property and your valuables. Featuring alarm systems, sensors, motion detectors, cameras, and 24/7 monitoring, there is a home protection package for every preference and budget. Our modern security systems are contract-free and arrive ready to work straight out of the box. No installation, no drilling, no phone line needed!

 Get peace of mind and protection with SimpliSafe

Understanding where burglars look for valuables is half the battle; the other half is being proactive about your home security. Using safes, locking away items, and investing in a robust home security system are key. With the right approach, you can make your home much less enticing to target.

Curious which SimpliSafe system fits your home best? Explore our packages, or reach out to our friendly team to find out more. Let’s protect your home the smart way.