One of the most common things people lose during a burglary is precious jewelry. Burglary is known to be a crime of opportunity since robbers are always looking for places where they can grab valuables without getting caught. Once inside a house, they usually pick up things of value that are easily found in obvious places. The following spots are some of the worst and unsafe places to hide jewelry and other valuables at home.

Inside the freezer
People often keep their jewelry in the freezer, either wrapped in foil or in a plastic box. Most people assume that no one would look for valuables in a place with food, but the freezer or refrigerator is one of the most evident places burglars will look. Also, since these appliances are easily accessible, anyone can open them and look through everything inside.

Under a mattress or bed
Burglars search for valuables in places commonly used for storage, such as under the bed or mattress. It is a common belief that these places provide excellent hiding spots for items such as jewelry since they are out of sight. However, this is not the case, as such places have become predictable hiding spots and are easily accessible to burglars. For instance, a burglar can easily lift a mattress or bend down and check underneath the bed. Therefore, keeping valuable items, such as jewelry, under a mattress or bed is highly unsafe.

A toilet water tank
Some people may consider the toilet tank a less noticeable spot when hiding valuable jewelry. The idea is that no one would think about opening the tank and looking inside. However, it has become increasingly popular knowledge that this is a common trick many use. Despite the apparent secrecy, significant risks are involved in keeping jewelry within a water tank. The high moisture level inside can damage the jewelry, even if it is well-secured with multiple layers of wrapping. This can lead to tarnishing and irreparable damage, making it a less-than-ideal hiding spot for valuables.

In vases and pots
Some people put their jewelry in empty pots and vases. The idea is that since these objects are part of the decor, they easily blend in with the home’s interior. These objects may seem discreet, but they draw a lot of attention. It will not take much time for a burglar to tip the vase or pot to check if it contains something valuable.

In a drawer
Burglars often target sock, desk, bedside, and dresser drawers when searching for valuables. However, these are not safe places to hide precious items. Locking these drawers is also impractical, as burglars can bypass the locks using essential tools or break them open. Therefore, it is crucial to consider alternative hiding places for jewelry or other valuable items in the home.

Inside DVD or CD cases
When burglars break into a house, they meticulously search every shelf and drawer, leaving no stone unturned in their quest for valuable items. They may even go to the extent of rummaging through CD and DVD cases, hoping to find something profitable. Additionally, suppose the homeowner possesses collector’s editions of DVDs and CDs in pristine condition. In that case, the burglar will almost certainly take them to sell them at a higher price to other collectors. Therefore, it is not advisable to store jewelry in these locations as they are not secure.

In the children’s bedroom
A few years ago, hiding jewelry and valuables in the kids’ bedroom may have seemed clever. However, this hack has become so widely known that burglars rarely overlook the children’s bedroom. This is particularly true because most kids today use high-value tech gadgets like tablets and gaming consoles. If someone is storing their jewelry in this room, a burglar will likely find it once they search through all the nooks and crannies. Therefore, the children’s bedroom is unsafe for hiding valuable items.

Inside the jewelry boxes
Jewelry boxes are commonly used to store jewelry but can put precious items at risk of theft. Despite having a locking mechanism, burglars can easily take the entire box and open it later. Thus, it is not recommended to keep valuable jewelry in these boxes.