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Part 7: Ten Best Ways to Hide Valuables
Hiding your life's treasures under your pillow or mattress won't
safeguard them from a thief. However, this doesn't mean that
a safety deposit box at your bank is the only place for them.
In fact, the traditional approach
of keeping one's valuables in the home is an excellent idea,
provided they are hidden in really secret places.
The ten following ideas of where
to locate a secret compartment will offer maximum security. The
first five, because they do require some construction to the
house, are better for people who own their own homes. The second
five ideas can be effectively used by apartment dwellers or renters.
1. WALLS
Because walls are hollow, there can be hidden space behind every
wall in every room.The ideal spots are behind solid, fixed items,
like coat racks, or boards along closet walls supporting the
clothes hanging pole. Remove the attachment and hollow out a
compartment. Make sure you camouflage your handiwork well.
2. BEAMS
Ceiling and wall beams are popular architectural features in
homes. Make one of the false beams (one which doesn't offer much
support) moveable, and hollow an opening out of its top or back
side.
3. BASEBOARDS
One of the easiest-to-construct compartments is one behind a
baseboard. These strips of wood that run along your walls next
to the floor are so common, no thief would give them a second
glance. Choose a short section of board, and carefully pry it
away from the wall with a crowbar. Now hollow out a hole, and
replace the baseboard.
4. PANELING
Wall paneling offers a method of opening large areas of dead
space. Your best choice is behind actual boards nailed to the
wall individually, not behind the four-by-eight sheets.
5. MIRRORS
For a compartment offering little depth, but a large area of
space, you can construct a hollow right behind a full length
mirror on your closet door. Hollow out your compartment, then
mount your mirror with sliding tabs.
6. FURNITURE
Complicated secret spaces built into furniture have for centuries
been favorites. A simple approach is to remove the molding of
a table or desk, and make a hollow.
7. BOOKCASE
A common source of easily overlooked space is found at the base
of a bookcase. The lowest shelf is usually raised above the ground
level several inches, and this space is enclosed with a base-molding.
If you can make the lowest shelf removable, you can attach your
valuables to the underside of this shelf by means of magnets.
8. LIGHT SWITCH
An easy and highly deceptive secret space can be constructed
behind an electric outlet plate or light switch plate. Make sure
the electricity is shut off when you remove the plate to construct
your hollow.
9. HOUSEPLANTS
Secret compartments can be constructed in the base of your plant
pots: this will be especially effective if you have lots of plants.
Seal your valuables well in plastic if they can be water damaged.
10. BURIED TREASURE
Finally, don't overlook the oldest hiding technique in history,
of burying your valuables underground. Make sure you have an
accurate map of where your treasure is buried.
For maximum security in hiding
your valuables in your own home, make sure your craftsmanship
is flawless. And don't reveal your hiding place to anyone out
of your own family.
These articles are reprinted
with permission from Visec
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