[custom_adv] Under the mattress Burglars will make a beeline to the room with the most valuables. 'The good stop is always going to be in the master bedroom,' says Chris McGoey, CPP, CSP, CAM, president of McGoey Security Consulting. 'That’s where you have your clothes, your jewelry, your extra cash, your weapons, your prescriptions—anything of value. [custom_adv] Bedroom closet A thief might rummage through your entire closet—pockets and all—looking for cash or other valuables. If you do decide to store valuables in your closet, leave them in a box purposely mislabeled with a boring name (think: 'college textbooks 1980' or 'baby clothes') to keep sticky fingers out, suggests McGoey. [custom_adv] Dresser drawers While burglars are in your bedroom, a jewelry box on top of the dresser is a hot commodity. Even you don’t store your jewelry in plain sight, a thief will probably hunt around in dresser drawers for a shoebox or other unique box that could be filled with watches, jewels, and other valuables, says Robert Siciliano, CSP, security analyst with Hotspot Shield. [custom_adv] Portable safe You probably want to keep your precious items locked away, but it won’t do much good if the safe isn’t attached to the floor or a wall. 'If it’s closed and locked, it implies there are things of value in there,' says McGoey. ' [custom_adv] Medicine cabinet Crooks want to make quick cash off your belongings, so they’ll be sure to browse your medicine cabinet for prescription pills they can sell. The pills might not be a concern because you can get a refill easily, but be careful what you store nearby. 'You want to avoid putting anything of significant value around medication of any kind,' says Siciliano. [custom_adv] Freezer If you’ve thought of the freezer as a sneaky hiding spot, chances are a robber has, too. A burglar won’t rummage through your entire stack of frozen peas and fish sticks, but if you leave your treasures in something out-of-place, such as a sock, the thief will be onto you. [custom_adv] Office drawers Think twice before stashing important papers like birth certificates or passports in your office drawers. 'People want to be convenient. They have a file labeled,' says McGoey. Unfortunately, that also means you’re leading burglars straight to everything they need to steal your identity. [custom_adv] Vase An empty vase could act as a hiding place for valuables, but swindlers are onto your tricks. They’ll likely tip the vase over or even break it, hoping to find goods inside. 'Have something additional in it, like flowers, that would obscure somebody looking in it,' he says. [custom_adv] Liquor cabinet A liquor cabinet might not seem like an obvious spot for thieves to hunt for valuables, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. 'It’s a target for kids looking for [alcohol],' says Siciliano. [custom_adv] Suitcase Your luggage might seem like a waste of valuable storage space when you’re not traveling, but don’t keep anything irreplaceable inside. 'Suitcases are common things people use as a safe even though it’s not a safe,' says McGoey.
