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Right after graduation, I got a job working for a nearby shipping company. In order to accommodate this new job, I transferred into a small apartment complex located in a rundown neighborhood, but close to work.

In this area, home break-ins were common and often had disastrous results. I would like to keep my things safe but can not pay for a strongbox or similar safe of my very own. So, I started researching affordable ways to hide valuables at home.

I made a decision to try out something new and bought a Mini Oreo Cookie diversion safe. A diversion safe is a hiding safe which is made to appear like a regular household or office item. In my case, it was a can of Mini Oreos.

If positioned properly, these kinds of diversionary hiding safes will match naturally with their surroundings. Thus, no person will think that the containers store anything of value.

Research shows that burglars spend only 8 minutes in somebody else’s household. They will generally go for easy-to-carry things like cell phones and they will not take the time to check every single container in your home. That is what makes diversion safes very effective. After all, why would a burglar check a can of Oreos for money or jewelry?

I used the Oreo diversion safe for my jewelry and several emergency cash, around $200 worth. I put a tiny identifying mark on it and placed it alongside real cans of brand-name cookies and also crackers.

I liked how easily it blended in, and how effective it was at concealing the goods. I then bought a dried soup diversion safe for my extra vehicle keys and registration and an Arizona Tea diversion safe for some gold coins that I got as a gift.

To round things out, I added a book diversion safe in order to keep several of my important papers, like my birth certificate. I find that diversion safes are an inexpensive and effective way to hide valuables at home from any kind of would-be thieves.

Ami V Paterson has been educating people how to operate self defense products to protect themselves for years. There are dozens of options, like stun guns, pepper sprays and personal alarms. He offers full support and instruction on how to operate the products.