Burglary Psychology 101: Why the Master Bedroom is the Worst Place to Hide Cash

If a burglar breaks into your home, how long do you think they stay? The FBI statistics are sobering: the average burglary lasts between 8 to 12 minutes.

They aren't looking everywhere. They are looking in specific "hot zones." If you are hiding your valuables in the master bedroom, you might as well leave them on the front porch.

The "Sock Drawer" Myth

Most people believe that burying cash in a sock drawer or under a mattress is clever. It isn't. It is the very first place a thief looks.

• The Master Bedroom: This is the "Honey Pot." Thieves head here first because it’s where jewelry, cash, and firearms are statistically most likely to be.

• The Freezer: Thanks to Hollywood movies, every thief knows to look in the freezer for wrapped bundles of cash.

The Concept of "Plain Sight" Camouflage

To beat a burglar, you have to move your valuables out of the "Hot Zones" (Bedroom/Office) and into the "Cold Zones" (Kitchen/Living Room/Pantry).

But you can't just leave cash on the counter. This is where Diversion Safes utilize human psychology.

Why the Kitchen is Safest

A thief has 10 minutes. They are not going to unscrew every can of soup in your pantry. They aren't going to check the bottom of a generic coffee container.

• The Decoy: A [Link to Product: Soda Can Safe or Soup Can Safe] placed in a pantry among real cans is statistically invisible to a burglar under time pressure. The brain scans the pantry, labels it "food," and moves on.

Hiding in Furniture

If you have larger items, concealment furniture works on the same principle. A thief sees a [Link to Product: Floating Shelf] and thinks "wood," not "storage."

The Bottom Line: Security isn't just about locks; it’s about location. Stop hiding things where thieves expect them to be. Move your valuables to the "Cold Zones."