After yesterday's tale of an oven-baked laptop, where a paranoid apartment dweller thought to stash his Mac in the oven to evade a potential burglar's loot radar, we now know where not to hide our valuables. But the basic idea behind the plan is still smart: If you're going to be away from home for a while, leave your expensive tech in unexpected places that burglars wouldn't think to raid. Here are a few better ideas.
Headed away for the holidays? Take a minute to burglar-proof—well, try to burglar-proof—your apartment.
Anything small, portable and valuable—like a laptop, iPad or camera—can (and should!) be hidden in an unlikely place.
So you don't have to turn to the oven to store your meltable and flammable gear, here's a few better ideas from us (and some input our readers!):
In the Kitchen
If you steer clear of the oven, the kitchen is a safe place to stash valuables, just ask rebecca_f : "The kitchen ... is a great place to hide things in case of a break-in. a police officer confirmed it for me earlier this year after i reported a robbery."
But we'd stick to cabinets and pantrys. Stashing your gear in the oven, dishwasher, microwave or fridge is asking for trouble. Plus, according to Catherine_g , it's probably not that safe: "Actually my coworker had his fridge and freezer raided by burglars. When the police came they said that a lot of people hide jewelry in the fridge, so burglars typically go through the fridge."
In the Bathroom
The cabinets in your bathroom and linen closet are probably another place burglars will skip over. Try stashing your laptop under the bathroom sink (in an airtight bag, you know, just in case). We also love this idea from Frambwaze: "I used to hide my laptop wrapped in a bath towel in the middle of the pile... what kind of thief would steal bath towels anyway?"
With You
What kind of techie would you be if you took a trip without your laptop, iPad and camera? The safest way to keep your gear away from burglars is to take it with you.
(Images: Flickr member stefanoost licensed for user under Creative Commons, Flickr member ttstam licensed for user under Creative Commons)
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Bottom of laundry hamper or put in a bag and hang it on hanger with a large coat over it.
I would think laundry baskets would also be a great place...
Maybe in a pillow case, or a duvet cover.
But you should totally have a properly backed up data so you don't lose anything priceless. And also have Renters Insurance, it's worth the few bucks...
Just my $.02
Max at Technologicalist.com
@PixerLated
Let's just hope those 'would be' burglars don't read this article.
Get insurance and don't worry about it.
do NOT try to hide anything in pillowcases! another thing i learned from the police was that thieves will often take pillowcases and bags to put your things in and get them out of the house. DOH!
I used to hide my journal as a kid by pulling out the very bottom drawer of the dresser. There was always a space between the drawer and the base of the dresser - so when I put the drawer back in, there was no way to tell that there was anything there. It'd be perfect for a notebook/laptop/ipad/etc.
I'm with @Dust80. Know I'll have to think of other spots other than the ones mentioned here. Darn.
...Now not know.
wrapped in bubblewrap under the insulation in the attic.
@trish- essentially a good idea. When my parents house was robbed a few years ago, they took the most ridiculous stuff! we concluded they were young considering they took the old video camera and NOT the vcr adapter making the camera totally useless. They also took a few other "ancient" items that we didnt really use anymore. Its a good idea in theory :)
They took ALL our external drives! We no longer have any pictures!!! :-((( they took our daughters piggy bank! Books as well on top of jewelry, all of our apple gear(iPad, iMac, MacBook pro x2, iPod, I-phone all the cables, 2 designer hand bags, perfume, body lotion, nice pens, books of our 7 year old daughter and for once I am early with my Christmas shopping they took it all!!! Grrrr!!! they even went trough our dirty laundry basket, fridge, freezer & bathroom!!! The old toshiba was left behind!!!! I am devastated!!!
If you are stashing laptops in pile of laundry or other cloths... be sure to turn them off, first..Overheating would not be fun.