Burglary protection guide Where do burglars look first?

Burglary protection should, of course, primarily prevent burglars from gaining access to the house. But what if it does happen? Many people therefore hide money and valuables in more or less creative hiding places to protect them from thieves. Unfortunately, burglars know this too and experienced criminals in particular are familiar with most hiding places. Time is also the decisive factor here, the longer thieves search without success, the higher the chances that they will give up. In this article, we show where burglars look first and which money hiding places are really good.

What hiding places do burglars know?

The bedroom is often searched first. Living rooms and studies are also often ransacked first. Most thieves are familiar with the usual hiding places for money:

In DVD cases
Behind pictures
Under the pillow or mattress
In the wardrobe under your clothes
Vases, cooking pots, sugar bowls or mugs
In game boxes
Between the books or even in fake book spines
The toilet cistern as a hiding place for money

THE BEST SECRET HIDING PLACES AT HOME

There are some basic rules for secret hiding places in the home that you should always follow:

A perfect hiding place doesn't stand out because it may be an ordinary everyday object.
It's not in the places where a thief would look first, like in the bedroom or in drawers.
Even if you bump into the stash or shake it, the money stored inside remains hidden.
It is also important that you always remember where you hid it and don't throw it away by mistake.

In the freezer compartment
Good money hiding places are creative and require a lot of effort from burglars to find. For example, you can freeze cash in a waterproof bag in the freezer. If you even place the bag in a soup, the cash is almost impossible to find.

In the potting soil
Tightly packed in the potting compost is also a good hiding place for money. After all, what burglar wants to dig up all the flower pots?

Entrance area
A good place to hide valuables could be the entrance area, for example, as it is often overlooked.

The fireplace
An unused fireplace can also be used as a hiding place: simply remove the cover, place valuables inside and then close it again. It is unlikely that a thief will look there.

Heavy furniture as a hiding place
Solid furniture is rarely moved by thieves. You can therefore attach money in thin envelopes to the underside of such furniture - but do not simply place it underneath. If possible, the money should be attached to the far side of the room.

Drawer underside
It is similar with drawers. They are generally not ideal hiding places, as burglars usually search them all. But money can be easily hidden at the bottom of a drawer. Simply pull out the drawer, attach money (perhaps in an envelope) to the underside and put the drawer back in the cupboard.

Everyday objects as a hiding place for money
Ordinary objects that appear inconspicuous can be excellent hiding places: Photo albums, behind the pictures. Boxes of tissues that pass the "shake test". Ceiling lights with hidden money inside. Empty containers of cosmetic products that are cleaned and filled with money - the container should not be too light so as not to arouse suspicion.

DO YOU KNOW THE WEAK POINTS?

Burglars can not only get into houses or flats through unsecured windows and doors, but also through overlooked weak points and points of attack that make it easier to break in.

To increase your security, it is important to realise where these weak points are and how you can better secure them. In this article, we will show you which weak points there are and what measures you can take to effectively protect yourself and your property

More about weak points

THE BEST SECRET HIDING PLACES AT HOME: THE CLASSIC SAFE

Even the best hiding place does not offer complete security. If burglars search your home while you are away, they can take their time and may even find the best hiding place for your money. The police therefore recommend special safes with a high resistance class, for which burglars would need special equipment, knowledge and time, which often means that criminals are more likely to give up.

Make sure that the safe is sufficiently large and heavy or firmly anchored, otherwise thieves will simply take the safe with them.

The classic safe deposit box is even more secure, because here others take care of the security. Valuables are also insured here, because no matter how well you hide your money: Above a certain amount, stolen cash in the home is no longer insured if it is not kept in a safe.

Opportunity makes thieves: valuables should not be immediately visible

Burglars often use windows and patio doors to assess whether the risk is worth it before the actual break-in. If valuables such as jewellery, expensive technology or even cash are immediately visible, this can tip the scales in favour of a break-in. Windows and doors are the biggest weak points in burglary attempts.

Burglary protection also means not appearing tempting to criminals. This is how opportunist burglars in particular proceed: Quick glances, gain access and get out again. Car keys for vehicles at home should also not be easily visible or accessible in the house.

The same applies here: make it as difficult as possible for burglars. Alarm systems, motion detectors that activate bright lighting or security windows and doors require the thief to use special equipment, be more careful or spend more time, all of which ultimately increase the risk of detection and prevent them from looking for hidden money in the first place. Find out how you can protect yourself here: