75 of the best secret hiding places to keep valuables protected

We all need to take measures to keep our valuables protected from thieves. There were about 3.7 million burglaries every year between 2003 and 2007. While those numbers have been going down in many parts of the United States, it’s still possible that you could become a victim.

Meanwhile, car theft is reported about every 40 seconds in the United States. And that doesn’t even touch the number of cars broken into without anything being stolen. The point is there are a lot of thieves in the world, so it’s important to protect your belongings as much as you can.

If your house gets broken into, you might be looking at losing some big items, such as electronics, bikes, and instruments. But those things can be replaced. What can’t be replaced are personal documents, family heirlooms, and life documents. Well, technically life documents can be replaced, but it could cost you your identity.

So, what’s the best way to protect yourself from losing these items? Well, the answer varies somewhat depending on a lot of things. Here are 75 suggestions from around the internet for protecting yourself at home, in your car, and while traveling.

1. A secret drawer in a window sill

This one takes some special installation, but it’s a great spot to hide valuables! It’s easy to open — but only for the people who know it’s there.

2. Behind a Murphy door

A Murphy door is a specially-installed unit that looks like a regular door or shelf but actually houses a secret compartment. No one will look for it unless they know it’s there.

3. A special bookshelf

The secret to effectively hiding your belongings is all about putting them in plain sight. This bookshelf looks standard from the outside, but it’s full of secret compartments.

Top Secret Furniture
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Top Secret Furniture

4. A special birdhouse compartment

Most people would never think to mess with a birdhouse. That’s what makes it a perfect spot to hide your keys — much better than under the doormat or a rock near the front door.

5. These special jars

It’s super easy to make these jars. Just use a regular jar, insert a toilet paper roll, then fill the sides with beans, lentils, or whatever you prefer. Then drop your valuables in the center of the roll

6. A special door top stash

It’s easy to install a special compartment on top of your door, and frankly, no one would ever think of looking there. Even if they did, it would be pretty difficult to access in a hurry.

7. A crawlspace

A crawlspace would be the first place a thief would look but only if they knew it was there! That’s why it’s so easy to hide it under a swatch of carpet.

8. A hidden compartment in a chair

It’s unlikely that any thieves would even think of dismantling furniture to look for valuables. These hidden chair compartments would never be on anyone’s radar.

9. This perfect method of hiding valuables at the beach

Do you want to take a dip in the water but don’t know where to put your keys, phone, money, or wallet? Get a clean disposable diaper and wrap your things up inside of it. No one will want to touch it, and you don’t even have to have a baby to do it.

Rustic Baby Chic
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Rustic Baby Chic

10. A special wall tile

If you like feeling as though you’re in a spy movie, why not put in a special tile in a wall? It’ll look just like all the others tiles so no one will know that it’s hiding something.

11. A bookcase with a secret door

If you love books (and need plenty of space for them) but also want a handy stowaway compartment, look into a sliding bookshelf. There are endless possibilities for this one.

12. A special photo frame

How about putting a secret compartment behind a photo frame? There are tons of places online that offer products like this, including Etsy.

13. Storage in the basement steps

Because basements are out of the way of the main part of the house, most people won’t be looking down there. But the basement steps are even more likely to be overlooked.

14. Hide your candy in a vegetable bag

Okay, this one is more for parents who are tired of sharing, but it still counts. If your kids love to steal your sweet treats, disguise them in a bag of vegetables.

15. Use some old technology

A stack of blank CDs is something no one will want to steal. That’s why it’s a perfect place to stash your valuables — in a compartment in the middle, of course.

16. This fake phone plug-in

It looks like a jack to plug your phone in, but it’s actually a handy secret compartment that slides right into the wall. No one would ever think to look there!

17. A painted mayonnaise jar

If you have an old mayonnaise jar that’s getting close to empty, you can turn it into a discreet hiding place. Just clean it thoroughly, apply some white paint to the interior, and place it on the fridge shelf.

Family Handyman
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Family Handyman

18. A compartment under a potted plant

Potted plants are usually filled with soil, as you might expect. But this clever hiding place ditches the soil for a secret compartment where you can stash your things.\

19. A hidden compartment in a drawer

Most drawers have a solid panel on the front, but this one does things a little differently. Instead of a solid panel, it has a hollow one that’s perfect for hiding valuables.

20. A fake hornets’ nest

If you want a hiding place for your keys that’s a little more advanced than a Hide-a-Key rock, how about a fake hornets’ nest? Of course, you’ll have to make sure no real hornets take up residence.

21. A compartment under a coffee table

It’s discreet without being too crazy — a hiding place under the coffee table. The side panel pops out and folds down to reveal the secret stash.

Stealth Furniture
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Stealth Furniture

22. A side compartment on a cabinet

Most cabinets have openings on the front, but this one has an extra door on its side. The hinged panel conceals a compartment where you can hide keys, cash, or important documents.

23. A stuffed animal

Here’s one for those of us who love spy movies: a jar inside an old stuffed animal. Hollow the stuffy out and then put the jar inside. No one will ever know it’s more than a cuddly friend.

24. Behind a wall outlet

There are probably dozens of outlets in your house, so who’s going to notice a fake one? Just make sure no one tries to plug their phone into it.

25. Inside a globe

With all the online maps we have access to these days, globes are just decorative for most people. But for some of us, they can also serve as a place to hide important things.

26. Inside fake pipes

Few people take the time to look twice at the pipes in any room, so this is a great idea. As long as they’re not hooked up to anything (except the wall, obviously), they shouldn’t be a problem.

27. In a trash can

If you’re not up to doing any construction, don’t worry — there are still tons of options! This method uses the space under the trash bag to stow some important things.

28. Inside a curtain

You don’t have to be great at sewing to put in this secret curtain pocket. Just stitch a pocket into the bottom of the curtain and slide your valuables in.

29. Inside a photo album

You can get magnetic pages for photo albums that adhere to the pages. That makes a perfect little pocket between the two pages where you can stash your things!

30. In a special thermometer

This one’s a special product that you have to buy, but it’s an effective one! Few people would ever think of looking inside a thermometer for valuables, which makes it perfect.

31. A fake drawer bottom

It looks like the drawer is empty but little does anyone know there’s a whole space underneath the false bottom. Just make sure everything is cushioned or it will roll around and make noise.

32. Inside a battery

This might be a good choice when you’re traveling, but it would also work at home. Just stick the “battery” in your junk drawer and be careful not to throw it away.

33. In a sliding fireplace

Plenty of people have fireplaces, including fake ones used for decoration. Most people won’t think twice about a fake fireplace, especially one with a secret door behind it.

Hidden Passageway
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Hidden Passageway

34. Inside a toe kick

Toe kicks are those boards down at the bottom of your kitchen cabinets. Because they’re made to be Invisible, they make a great place to stow some of your most important things.

35. Under a fish tank

Some fish tanks have sliding drawers beneath them for storing food and cleaning accessories. But not everyone knows they’re there so they probably won’t look for them.

36. Inside a hairbrush

Here’s a great idea for when you’re next traveling: pop the end of your hairbrush off to make a safe compartment. On the outside, it just looks like a regular brush.

37. Inside a bed knob

Not everyone has a bed frame with knobs these days, but if you do, don’t waste the opportunity for extra secret storage.

38. Inside a side table

This cute little side table looks normal from the outside but it has a swiveling top that hides a secret compartment. It’s perfect for anything you need to access in a hurry!

Sugar and CLoth
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Sugar and CLoth

39. Inside your computer disc drive

If you still have a desktop computer, it probably has a disc drive. But with all the options for streaming music and movies, you might not use it much. Repurpose it as a secret stash for papers or cash.

40. In a deck of cards

A deck of cards is a great place to hide money or any flat valuables, especially when you’re traveling. You can easily access your stash on the road or at home.

41. In an old paint can

Do you have some old paint cans lying around your garage? Once they’re dry, use them to store important documents, money, or other items. No one will look twice at a bunch of old cans on a shelf.

42. Inside your books

You’ve probably seen someone who hid money or other items in the pages of books, but this DIY hack goes one step further by making a special secret compartment in the shelf.

Sewing Barefoot
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Sewing Barefoot

43. Inside a keyboard

If you still have a computer keyboard, you may be able to pry up one section to reveal a space underneath. This person chose keys on the far right that aren’t often used.

44. Inside a tissue box

A tissue box is a simple way to stash something where it’s easily accessible. Just make sure you don’t throw the box away after using all the tissues!

45. In a candle

Sure, some candles are expensive, but they’re not a commonly stolen item. Many of them already have a hollow area on the bottom, which makes them perfect for stowing valuables.

46. In a pack of sticky notes

Do you have some things you need to keep at the office? A pack of sticky notes might be a good idea. Just remember that one of your coworkers might need to use a note for real.

47. In your bike seat

We wouldn’t recommend this for a seat that’s actually attached to a bike since they get stolen. But if you have an extra bike seat in your garage, you can use the small compartment for valuables.

48. In your deodorant

Here’s another place to store your items while you’re on the road: in a stick of deodorant. After the stick is used up, wash and dry the container thoroughly to make a space for cash, your ID, and more.

49. Inside a vacuum bag

Here’s a hiding spot that’s a little more elaborate than most of the ones on this list: in a vacuum bag. To be fair, no one’s going to be dismantling your vacuum to look for valuables.

50. Inside lip balm

This is another great hack for storing valuables while traveling. It uses the same method as the deodorant hack — just clean out and dry the inside of the lip balm container and then roll up your cash to fit.

51. Inside some flip-flops

If you have some cheap flip-flops, you can peel the sole to open the inside of the shoe. If you wear them enough, they might even do this on their own.

52. Behind the TV

This might not be the best place to hide things from burglars since they tend to go for televisions but it’s an easily-accessible spot that you’ll definitely remember.

Apartment Therapy
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Apartment Therapy

53. In a pack of gum

Here’s another place to store your valuables while you’re on the road! It’s also an excuse to chew an entire pack of gum.

54. Inside a picture frame

You don’t need a special picture frame to use as a hiding spot for valuables. Most frames naturally have a gap so you can use almost any of them.

55. Inside an air vent

If you want your valuables to be in a safe spot but not easily accessible to thieves, an air vent could be a great place. However, youll need a drill to remove it.. So. it’s not good for quick retrieval.

56. Inside a towel rack

Most towel racks are hollow for good reason — they need to be lightweight and mounted to the wall. It’s not perfect for every kind of item, but it’s ideal for small ones!

57. Inside a chessboard

If you’re a fan of chess, you might have a chessboard lying around your house. It could be a perfect place to hide some of your possessions.

58. Inside a flashlight

Flashlights are hollow so that batteries fit imside. Presto, there’s your secret compartment. This could be a great spot while you’re traveling.

59. In an empty vitamin bottle

Once you finish your vitamins, you’re probably going to toss the empty bottle. Alternatively, you could use it as a place to stash a couple of small possessions that’ll never be noticed.

60. Under the sole of a shoe

We’ve all seen the “tuck the valuables in the toe of the shoe” trick, but this one goes one step further. Just pull up the sole of the shoe and tuck your cash underneath.

61. In a book

Forget placing cash in the pages of a book — use the spine instead. Most books have a small gap that’s perfect for bills.

62. In a piece of wood

This one might be conspicuous unless you have other wood around, but it’s a good idea for a fireplace or a woodpile. There’s no need to buy any special products — you can make this one out of a regular piece of wood.

63. Under your kitchen counter

Most kitchen counters have a top panel that’s easy to pull off. Just clip a folder with your important items in it and replace the countertop.

64. Inside a clock

A clock on the wall makes a great spot for some items. Just tuck them in the back and then put it back on the wall.

65. In a tennis ball

It might not be a good idea for around the house, but do whatever floats your boat. No one is going to look twice at a tennis ball, and they’re easy to cut.

66. In a can of shaving cream

If you want some of your valuables within easy reach inside your medicine cabinet, use an old can of shaving cream. Cut it in half, clean it out, and you’ve got a new hiding spot.

67. In a compartment in a shelf

You can find tons of shelf options online that have secret compartments. These might fold or slide out for easy storage of all your valuables.

68. In your mouth guard case

If you wear or have ever worn a mouth guard, those little cases they come in are the perfect size for a few small valuables. Thieves are unlikely to want to look in there, either!

69. In a box of floss

Here’s another way to hide things in your travel bag: use an empty box of floss! Some containers even have an insert that you can snap over the inside of the box.

The Space Between
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The Space Between

70. Behind your vinyl

If you’re into vinyl, you can make a great spot on your shelf for hiding important items. Just make a hollow space behind the discs for your valuables.

71. In your pillow

Plenty of people used to hide their important things in pillows, but it’s not commonly done anymore. You can even get pillows with special compartments!

72. In your wall art

Just as with picture frames, wall art has a convenient space at the back where you can hide a few items. Or you can do what this person did and hide them in the art itself!

73. In your washing machine

Since water and heat go through your washing machine regularly, you might want to be careful what you hide and where. But if you practice caution, it can be a good hiding place!

74. Under a fake cupholder

If you’re concerned about your car getting broken into, you might wonder where you can possibly store things. This clever hack makes a compartment hidden under a false bottom in a cupholder.

75. In an old soda bottle

Here’s another way of disguising important items in trash. To the outside, it looks like nothing important, which makes it a perfect disguise.

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Source:Bored Panda, Insurance Information Institute, Alarms