Burglars Admitted the First 10 Places They Search for Cash (Is Your Hiding Spot on the List?)

Burglars told me for years: they start in one room, and know what's in it before they open a drawer. Here are the 10 places they check first. I'm Mike Brennan, retired detective. I spent 35 years in law enforcement, and later in my career I ran a property crime unit, so I stood in a lot of bedrooms the morning after a break-in. In this video I count down the ten places burglars look first for cash and valuables, ranked from what I heard and what I walked into: the kitchen and freezer, the toilet tank, the medicine cabinet, the bookshelf, the desk and junk drawer, the closet, the little safe that isn't bolted down, under the mattress, the nightstand, and the one they go to before anything else. For each one I tell you why it's on the list and what I'd do instead. Then I give you three rules that work better than any hiding spot: keep less at home, lock up what's left in something fastened down or out of the house, and make a record of everything. This week, do two things: look at your bedroom tonight the way a stranger would, and take a close photo of every piece of jewelry you'd want back and send the pictures to someone you trust. In the comments, tell me which of the ten surprised you and which one you'd most want a parent or friend to hear about. Please don't share where you keep anything, whether you keep cash, a safe, or a firearm at home, when you're away, or whether you live alone. Safety note: if you come home and find a door forced or things moved, don't go inside to check your valuables. Get back in your car, lock the doors, and pull out to the street (or go to a neighbor's if it's close and the way is lit), then call 911. If you're home and hear someone inside, get somewhere safe and call 911. Old medicine: the DEA holds National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, usually in April and October (fall 2026: Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Upcoming dates and year-round drop-off sites are at dea.gov/takebackday. Sources: KGW News (Portland, Oregon), anonymous survey of 86 people imprisoned for burglary in Oregon (October 2016); UNC Charlotte, Blevins, Kuhns & Lee, "Understanding Decisions to Burglarize from the Offender's Perspective" (2012; funded by the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation); New York State Department of Financial Services, homeowners insurance basic coverage and special limits; AARP, "10 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Safe Deposit Boxes" (2024); U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. I'm Mike Brennan. Keep less, and lock the rest. #MikeBrennan #HomeSecurity #BurglaryPrevention #HidingSpots #RetiredDetective #SeniorSafety #ProtectYourHome #HomeSafety #CrimePrevention #Burglars #SafetyTips #JewelryTheft #IdentityTheft Tags: where burglars look first, burglar hiding spots, hiding places burglars check, master bedroom burglary, home security for seniors, how to protect valuables, jewelry theft, home safe, safe deposit box, prescription drug take back, burglary prevention, retired detective, Mike Brennan