Hidden Safe Options
So, you want to be sneaky, eh? Install a hidden safe in your home to fool any would-be burglars? Let's take a look at what kind of safes are on the market that might work for you. Before we get to that, however, I feel obligated to say you can't go wrong with a big old herkin' fire-proof, tamper-proof, safe bolted to the floor in your office or bedroom. That's a smart way to go not only because a safe that's bolted to the floor is impossible to steal, but because safes with UL ratings are fireproof too. But if you don't want to make that kind of investment right now, let's look at some hidden safe options. These sneaky safes tend to be less money, and they don't require you remembering a combination for a lock.
Fake Wall Outlet Hidden Safe -- It doesn't get any cheaper than this. You can buy these suckers for less than $10 at Amazon.com. Any burglar with a screwdriver could come along and open it, but that's the trick, isn't it? These "safes" look just like the rest of your wall outlets, and chances are a thief isn't going to have time to run around with a multimeter, checking to make sure all your outlets are the real deal. Install this baby, put a dresser in front of it, and you're probably good to go. The downside, of course, is that you can't fit much behind a little outlet plate. Here's the link if you want to buy: Wall Outlet Hidden Safe
Hidden Safe Disguised as Food/Cleaner -- This is my least favorite option. They're basically just empty cans of soda or cleaner (I've even seen a jar of peanut butter) designed to hold your stash. The reason I don't like these is that it's too easy for someone to carry away. And it's not like burglars don't know about all these gimmicks. Those people break into houses for a living. Of course they know about this sort of thing. All you have to do is watch an episode of "It Takes a Thief" on the Discovery Channel, and you'll see the guy flinging things off shelves in cabinets and even digging around in the refrigerator. A peanut-butter-jar "hidden safe" isn't going to have the same weight as a can of Skippy. These guys will recognize that. At least with the wall outlet safe, they'd have to have a screwdriver on them (and be willing to check every outlet in the house) to find your goods.
Fake Book -- We've all seen these in the movies. Faux book opens to reveal a hidden storage nook in between the fake pages. Same complaint as above. All it takes is a burglar shoving books off the shelf (and, yes, they do this) to knock this one out and find your stash.
Hidden Wall Safes -- I like these types of safes far more than the two we've talked about. But you won't find one for under $10 like with the others. Expect to pay a couple hundred dollars for a decent safe, and if you want it hidden in the wall (behind a bookcase, painting, etc.), then you may need to have it professionally installed. When you're looking for a wall safe, make sure it will fit between the studs in your house.
Now that we've looked at your hidden safe options, let me repeat that a
big safe bolted to the floor in your home (that bad boy can even be in
plain sight) is just as secure (more secure, because no burglar is going
to chance onto your "trick") and fireproof to boot.