Where to hide/store Jewerly and Watches inside Home?

[socialpro]

As we have accumulated more jewerly and watches throughout the years - now the big question becomes where and how to protect it all. I have insurance on all the items - but would love to prevent theft and burglary in the first place.

I live in a 2 story house - and have limited room to install a safe (large and thick enough) I would consider deemable of preventing someone from accessing one, if intended. The safe would also have to go on the 2nd floor, as there is no room on the first.

Even then - it seems like I'm assembling all the goods into one very accessible area where just some metal stands between a burglary and all the valuables.

Currently everything is spread out in the house through various locations, known to my wife and I - but with more valuables accumulating it's becoming harder and harder to keep track of - and some items will inevitably be left out one way or another.

Bank safety deposit boxes etc are not an option as all the items are routinely rotated on what we wear.

So what methods do you use and what do you suggest?

Should I still go for the safe method and just get one large enough to fit into one of the closets? Keep expanding on hiding locations? I would like something I will feel comfortable moving forward with and not be hesitant on acquiring more pieces if I choose so.

Thanks for all the insight!

[bobernet]

Wall safe, floor safe, hidden compartments in walls or furniture, or in plain sight. Those are generally your options if you want to keep them in the house.

[BNA/LION]

Make room for a Safe and you will have a place to store all your valuables and important papers.

[Chewbacca]

We should welcome every crook to this thread.

[kieselguhr]

A TL 30 safe bolted to the floor. It’s just to deter opportunistic criminals. Everything in it is insured because nothing is 100% proof against a determined criminal.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

We should welcome every crook to this thread.

There’s really no need. The ones who know how to rip a safe out off a house can do it in 5 minutes or less and already have a target in mind.

[daOnlyBG]

What do you call a safe that isn't bolted down to the ground?


A heavy box.

[Andad]

You are hoping that the perpetrators don’t break in and “persuade” you to open the safe?

[Burlington]

My watch is currently in the sock drawer.

Pretty much any hiding place you can dream up will be known to a burglar.

Spreading things out as you do, so as to limit loss is probably the best thing vs. a safe

[yeohongwee]

Avoid wearing expensive watches to attract attention and no one will know your collection.
I think safe box isn't a good idea.. the most dangerous place is always the safest place to keep important stuff

[junamuan]

Originally Posted by Burlington

My watch is currently in the sock drawer.

Pretty much any hiding place you can dream up will be known to a burglar.

Spreading things out as you do, so as to limit loss is probably the best thing vs. a safe

I have a safe bolted on to the floor but starting to think it's not that smart. It's too tempting for the burglar.

So I'm on the same boat as the OP.

[SpeakWithMichael]

Some people have creativity and some don't.

[bayerische]

Only one place secure enough.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by daOnlyBG

What do you call a safe that isn't bolted down to the ground?


A heavy box.

What if it weighs 2500lbs?

[Zakalwe]

Thieves are either opportunistic or determined.

Opportunistic thieves are overwhelmingly in the majority - they tend not to plan or prepare and are in and out quickly (three minutes is the estimated average time spent in the home in UK burglaries). Basic, common sense deterrents will foil these guys - good lighting around the property, locked doors and windows, decent alarm +- CCTV. Any kind of properly installed safe will defeat them.

Determined thieves are a different story: you can’t completely mitigate their threat - they’ll research your movements and strike while you’re out or on holiday; they’ll come tooled up and be able to defeat your security. If not, as alluded to above, they’ll threaten violence. Personally I don’t worry too much about this threat because, beyond what I already mentioned in the previous paragraph, you can’t do anything about it and I don’t see any point in sweating about stuff I have no control over.

[Brew]

I used to have 3 big dogs. No one was getting on to my property unannounced. I only have one now, so I bought a safe. I think the watches were safer with the dogs.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by bayerische

What if it weighs 2500lbs?

A VERY heavy box?

[superdog]

Originally Posted by yeohongwee

Avoid wearing expensive watches to attract attention and no one will know your collection.
I think safe box isn't a good idea.. the most dangerous place is always the safest place to keep important stuff

Soooooo....

Live in fear and don’t wear a nice watch? Doesn’t appear to be much fun in that strategy.

[DLRIDES]

Home thieves are opportunistic, not extensive heist planners with elaborate equipment. Most jewelry related items probably disappear via home visitors. If anything more than a small floor bolted/wall safe is necessary, IMO, ............. one should reconsider their geographic choices !

[Josh1000]

Store in the fridge

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by socialpro

Currently everything is spread out in the house through various locations, known to my wife and I - but with more valuables accumulating it's becoming harder and harder to keep track of

Really?

What exactly is the real problem here?

Roving bands of marauders and thieves in your home?
Piles of stuff you cannot account for?

[1William]

A safe and an alarm will give you some piece of mind. Look at YouTube at how they can open even the best of safes very quickly and you will realize that you are not trying to stop real safe crackers only regular criminals. Also get one with a fireproof rating as you can suffer a significant loss from fire as well.

[Danny83]

https://www.secretstashing.com/produ...-white-regular

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Wall safe, floor safe, hidden compartments in walls or furniture, or in plain sight. Those are generally your options if you want to keep them in the house.

Pretty much

[Jim Smyth]

If you do a search its been discussed many many times here with lots of good info in previous threads. But the consensus is first Hidden, in a safe (for fire protection) and bolted down.

Any other add on's (Security cameras, Dogs, alarms etc) are a bonus. The more difficult the better. Thief's dont like hanging around for any length of time. The tougher you make it the better, layers if you will.

[BigBoy17]

a secret place that i wont share

[JTL31]

Originally Posted by socialpro

...Currently everything is spread out in the house through various locations, known to my wife and I - but with more valuables accumulating it's becoming harder and harder to keep track of - and some items will inevitably be left out one way or another.

Make sure you both know all the hiding places! About a year ago, another TRF member told a story of how he hid $5,000 in a coat pocket. His wive donated the coat to the Salvation Army since it wasn’t worn often. OUCH!

[greggsiam]

A safe. The average thief will never break into it. If they have the time and access to really break into it, you have far bigger problems. You really are just preventing a smash and grab home burglary, in which a safe will do.

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by Josh1000

Store in the fridge

This would prompt umpteen is it safe threads

[Tricolore66]

Speaking from experience, you’re more at risk of losing a watch by forgetting where you stashed it (if you’ve got them stashed all over) than risk of theft. A small safe that’s hidden, an alarm with cameras, and insurance are your best bets. A small wall safe behind a piece of art is a good method.