How To: Hide things from burglars

Put yourself in the shoes of a burglar so you can anticipate where they'd look for your valuables.
You Will Need
* A home safe
* An empty cereal box

Step 1: Understand the burglar's motivation
Understand that the burglar has two goals: to find your valuables, and to get in and out of your house as fast as possible.

Step 2: Practice diversion with cash
Leave a small amount of cash in an obvious spot, so burglars think they've found all the cash in your house and won't bother looking for more.

Step 3: Hide money and valuables
Spread out your valuables and money. Hide some in messy areas that would take a burglar too long to go through, such as a child's room, basement, or garage.

Don't hide valuables in obvious places like drawers or purses.

Step 4: Divert the burglar
Make a diversion box with an ordinary item, such as a cereal box. Store valuables in the box.

Step 5: Use a home safe
Store extra-valuable items in a home safe bolted to the floor.

Step 6: Inventory your stuff
Keep track of the valuables in your house in case you are the victim of burglary. But hopefully, you'll outsmart the burglar by staying one step ahead of them.

Fact: From 1998 to 2007, property crime in the U.S. declined 10 percent.