Stop hiding things in your sock drawer!
It's the first place burglars look
Think you're being crafty by stowing that roll of emergency cash at the back of your sock drawer? Assuming it will be camouflaged amid all those delightful polka dots and stripes, or overlooked in the face of aggressive argyle?
Think again.
The sock drawer is among the most common places people stash money, jewelry, and other valuables — and burglars know it. The average thief takes just eight to 12 minutes in a home, and he or she is going to start by making a beeline for the master bedroom and that unassuming dresser drawer. Other not-as-secret-as-you'd-hoped spots in the bedroom include under the mattress and inside desks and closets. Americans are also fond of using the freezer or the cookie jar. And wall art that fronts a safe or secret compartment is less cunning than you might think (Shawshank Redemption aside).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Our lack of creativity might not be such a problem if we carted our precious possessions to the safe deposit box as regularly as we once did. But it's estimated that nearly half the safe deposit boxes in the country are empty today, and some banks aren't even including them in new branches. As for cash in particular, stockpiling savings at home is surprisingly common.
There are many reasons to reconsider this strategy. Free-floating money does not have the same loss protections as when it's kept in an FDIC-insured bank account. You're not earning any interest. A fire or other disaster could rob you of all your hard-earned savings. Or you could forget where you put the money and either accidentally throw it away or leave it behind. (Or someone else could do it for you, as with the Israeli woman who unknowingly replaced her mother's million-dollar mattress.)
If, however, you insist on keeping cash around — or if you have valuables that you're unwilling to put in a safe deposit box — be smart about where you hide them. Pick a place that will be easily overlooked by a thief, and that will remain undisturbed by house guests or pets. Keep in mind that it's easiest to remember a hiding place if you pick just one. And to avoid accidental tossing, you may want to let someone you trust in on the secret.
Here's a round-up of seven clever options, both do-it-yourself and for purchase:
1. The hollow book is a classic of concealment. You can create one yourself or buy it online. The ruse will be most effective if you have a large enough book collection that the imposter doesn't stand out.
2. Whether you're partial to fake beverages, jars of peanut butter, or containers of salt, there are plenty of so-called diversion safes that can hide in plain sight in the kitchen. All have secret compartments for your valuables. Alternately, you can repurpose containers on your own depending on the product (think mustard and mayonnaise jars).
3. Feel more secure in the bathroom? Try bogus shaving cream, hair brushes, or deodorant. Or consider reusing an old medicine bottle once it's empty.
4. Faux air vents and electric sockets also blend in nicely, and can front secret storage.
5. The Rubik's cube safe is in a category by itself. No, it's not a working puzzle. But it does have a hidden compartment, accessible by turning the middle three layers in a specific combination. Just hope the burglar doesn't recognize it's not the same size as the classic Rubik's.
6. Buy a can of tennis balls and cut a small slit in each one. It'll work similarly to those small coin purses that open when you squeeze their sides and pop back into shape afterward. Stow it with other athletic gear and no one will ever know.
7. Find an old canister-style vacuum cleaner, which typically can be converted into a storage compartment. No burglar is going to stop to clean up after himself.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Alexis Boncy is special projects editor for The Week and TheWeek.com. Previously she was the managing editor for the alumni magazine Columbia College Today. She has an M.F.A. from Columbia University's School of the Arts and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.
-
'His death creates an opportunity for rough justice'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Movies to watch in October, from 'Joker: Folie à Deux' to 'Saturday Night'
The Week Recommends Joaquin Phoenix as Joker, a new Jason Reitman comedy and a buzzy Palme d'Or winner
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
What should you consider when choosing a financial adviser?
The Explainer The right person can be a big help with financial planning, investing, taxes and more
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Walter Isaacson's 'Elon Musk' can 'scarcely contain its subject'
The latest biography on the elusive tech mogul is causing a stir among critics
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Welcome to the new TheWeek.com!
The Explainer Please allow us to reintroduce ourselves
By Jeva Lange Published
-
The Oscars finale was a heartless disaster
The Explainer A calculated attempt at emotional manipulation goes very wrong
By Jeva Lange Last updated
-
Most awkward awards show ever?
The Explainer The best, worst, and most shocking moments from a chaotic Golden Globes
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
The possible silver lining to the Warner Bros. deal
The Explainer Could what's terrible for theaters be good for creators?
By Jeva Lange Last updated
-
Jeffrey Wright is the new 'narrator voice'
The Explainer Move over, Sam Elliott and Morgan Freeman
By Jeva Lange Published
-
This week's literary events are the biggest award shows of 2020
feature So long, Oscar. Hello, Booker.
By Jeva Lange Published
-
What She Dies Tomorrow can teach us about our unshakable obsession with mortality
The Explainer This film isn't about the pandemic. But it can help viewers confront their fears about death.
By Jeva Lange Published