Tips on the Best & Worst Places to Hide a Safe

Are you searching for the best ways to keep your valuables secure? At-home security methods are a great way to help keep your valuables safe in the case of an emergency such as a burglary or theft. Thankfully, due to an increase in home security methods such as installing CCTV cameras, improving lock systems in your home and utilising safes, 96.8% of Australians have not experienced a break-in or an attempted break-in within the last 12 months (Budget Direct, 2022).

Installing a safe in your home is a great way to keep your valuables safe in the event of an emergency whilst being able to access your valuables whenever necessary. There are numerous factors to consider when deciding where to hide your safe in order to keep it as secure as possible.

External and Internal Threat Protection

Considering internal and external threads is extremely important when deciding where is the best location to keep your safe. If you keep weapons inside your safe, it is important to ensure your safe is effectively secured and not easily accessible at all times. This is especially important if you have children in your home, as there is an increased risk of injury if they have access to the weapons, making it essential to take extra precautions for everybody’s safety.

It is important to be intentional about the placement of your home safe in the event of a burglary, to have the best chance of keeping your valuables secure. It has been well-known that bedrooms are a popular place for people to keep their safe, which has become common knowledge for criminals who intend to intrude in someone’s home, with bedrooms being one of the first places an intruder searches in.

With this being said, many people do not have another option but to keep their safe in their bedroom. If this is the case, there are extra precautions you may wish to implement in order to make your safe location as secure as possible.

Unfortunately, in Australia, the most common items stolen during a home break-in are personal items such as jewellery and clothing, with money and wallets being high on the list (Budget Direct, 2022). A safe is a great way to ensure your jewellery and personal items are kept out of view and protected at all times.

Hidden safes are an effective way to secure your valuables from external people or in the case of theft and burglary. It is known that burglary generally happens relatively quickly lasting about 8 to 10 minutes, with some burglaries only lasting about 90 seconds. Burlagries generally happen quickly as burglars are looking to get in and out of the home as quickly as possible once they have the valuables they are looking for to avoid being caught.

When deciding on hiding places for your safe, it is important to consider places that would take a lot of searching and time, in the event a burglar is searching for a safe. Generally, the longer it takes someone to find a safe, the more likely they are to give up their search as they do not want to be inside the home for too long.

When considering hiding places for your safe, it is important to ensure your safe is not kept in an obvious location that may be difficult to access. Considering these options when choosing the best hiding places for your safe will assist you in securing your valuables.

In a wall

Disguising and protecting your safe in the wall is known to be one of the most effective hiding places for a safe as it is difficult for others to access. In the case of a burglary, a safe in a wall is out of eyesight, making it difficult for people to locate the safe and access it without causing extreme noise both for you and your neighbours. Not only does a safe stored in a wall prevent the likelihood of theft of your valuables, but it is also an out-of-reach location for kids. Storing your valuables such as jewellery and important documents in an out-of-reach location for kids will ensure your valuables are secure and will not experience any damage.

In a closet under objects or under a piece of furniture

Storing your safe in a wardrobe closet underneath objects or under a piece of furniture is a great way to ensure your safe is not in view of other people. Whilst concealing your safe, storing your safe in a closet underneath objects or under furniture allows you to have ample access to your valuables whenever necessary. It has been shown to be effective when a safe is hidden with obstacles in the way of an intruder. The more of a hassle it is for an intruder to locate and access your safe, the less likely they are to spend time getting access to your valuables.

In a basement or attic

Hiding your safe in a basement, attic or space which requires crawling is an ideal hiding place for your safe as it makes it difficult for intruders to access your valuables. Intruders have the goal of spending the least amount of time possible in your home, as the longer they are there, their chances of being caught increase.

In a disguised furniture item

Many people utilise some methods such as tricking intruders by disguising their safe. You may wish to disguise the location of your safe by utilising a false bottom drawer or disguising it within other furniture items within your home. If you have a hidden space within your staircase or various cabinetry in your home, these may be suitable areas to disguise the location of your safe.

Now that we have covered some of the best hiding places to secure your safe, it is important to be aware of some of the least effective hiding places.

In a common hiding spot

Many hiding places are considered to be common or well-known for people attempting to take your valuables, making these locations not ideal for keeping your valuables secure. Keeping safe in a garage, under the bed or in a suitcase is considered to be some of the most common hiding places, making them first targets for intruders when they enter your home.

In a garage or shed

A garage or shed may be considered an easy access point if is not effectively locked or utilises effective home security tactics such as security alarms. Garages are a common first entry point in the event of a burglary, making keeping safes in a garage, not the most secure place to store your valuables.

In a poorly disguised location

A poorly disguised location may refer to a location that is in clear eyesight for a burglar or someone who shouldn’t have access to the safe. When the safe is in clear eyesight and is poorly disguised, this makes accessing the safe quicker and more simple, making the safe an easy target.

Tips for Choosing the Best Hiding Spot

When you are choosing the best location for your hidden safe, you must consider the best safes for your needs. There are many tips and factors to consider when choosing the best safe and hiding places for the highest level of safety and security of your valuables, whilst assessing the need for accessibility to your valuables. Here are the top five tips to consider:

Consider the need for accessibility and security
Consider the size and weight of the safe
Consider the impact on your daily routine
Avoid common hiding spots
Consider creative disguises

Luckily, the rate of theft and burglary in Australia is not too common. With this being said, the best way to protect and secure your belongings is to implement some of the best security methods. It may be beneficial to consider the design of your home to understand the best way to protect your belongings. Investing in a safe and securing your belongings is the first step in ensuring you and your family are feeling safe within your home, which is the highway priority.

Consider Where You Secure Your Safe

It is extremely important to choose the best safes for you and your needs. You may require a safe of a particular size or capacity, or a fire-proof safe may be the best option for you spending on your location. Once you have chosen the best safes for your needs, it is important to consider the best hiding places for your safe in order to keep your valuables secure.

Hidden safes are beneficial for keeping valuables such as jewellery, and important documents such as birth certificates and passports away from any potential of being damaged or stolen. At Abbott Locksmiths, we have a range of safes in various sizes and weight options, suitable for a variety of needs!