Have any of you built a secrect compartment or room?

boatbldr · March 20, 2007 1:52AM

I don't mean pulling out the bottom drawer of a dresser. I mean a carefully thought out and engineered secret panel, hidey hole, or room to stash valuables?

I won't say if I have, I won't say if I haven't!!

eyoung429 · March 20, 2007 1:53AM

let's just say that I like my new house....

lasvegasteddy · March 20, 2007 1:53AM

false closet's i hear are popular...;-)

Zoins · March 20, 2007 1:53AM

Like the kind in The Thomas Crowne Affair or an entire room in Meet The Parents?

compromonedas · March 20, 2007 1:56AM

Maybe

kranky · March 20, 2007 1:59AM

No, everything is in the bank.

barbershopper · March 20, 2007 2:01AM

I have an 800 pound empty weight gun safe for mine. Dunham sporting goods sells them.
It only cost $700 and if a burglar hauls it away, he earned it.
JT

topstuf · March 20, 2007 2:01AM

Is it a secret bank?

Cladiator · March 20, 2007 2:05AM

<< and if a burglar hauls it away, he earned it. >>

I like your attitude

ccmorgan · March 20, 2007 2:06AM

Lets just say my valuables are safely hidden.

BlindedByEgo · March 20, 2007 2:06AM

I'm not telling

boatbldr · March 20, 2007 2:07AM

great book

link

richardshipp · March 20, 2007 2:11AM

We recently acquired a safe deposit box and moved everything to it. I sleep better at night and besides........ I'd hate to have to shoot someone over a coin........

carl · March 20, 2007 2:12AM

I've always wanted a house like the ones in the movies where there are entire rooms, secret basements, etc. I really liked the ones in Abbot and Costello meet Dr. Jedkel and Mr. Hyde. Bookcase turns, stairway down to an entire secret basement. Trouble is in my area the stupid thing would flood all the time.
As for me, no. Most are in the banks safe deposit vaults. Only cheap stuff around here. I'd like a garage like in the old Green Hornet programs where your entire car flips upside down. Better yet how about a basement like Batman's?

combatmailman · March 20, 2007 2:19AM

If I tell you it wont be a secret hiding place anymore

kranky · March 20, 2007 2:21AM

<< Is it a secret bank? >>

The trick is to get a safe deposit box at a tiny bank that doesn't have any branches within, say, 25 miles of your house, and that you have no other relationship with. That way if the worst happens, a search by certain agencies won't find it. They will first check the banks where you have accounts, and if no box turns up, they'll check other banks in the immediate area, then quit. Without any reason to keep looking (no receipts from that distant bank turn up in your records), it's a rudimentary search.

If I was going to keep stuff at home, no matter how well hidden, I'd want to leave some stuff out just in case someone decides to destroy the place looking. Better to sacrifice a bunch of $8 slabs than to have the house torn up fruitlessly.

291fifth · March 20, 2007 2:33AM

A money bin built to rival that of Scrooge McDuck.

N8 · March 20, 2007 3:06AM

We are having a house built this summer, I have some ideas...

kiyote · March 20, 2007 3:12AM

No, I hide my expensive coins and the few ozs of platinum and gold I have in my HP printer tray in my office.

RichR · March 20, 2007 3:28AM

My professional engineer father was always very handy in that regard...he actually built a large empty vault area behind and under a staircase, and then concealed it with a false wall, shelves, and a grocery pantry. The false back of the cabinet was held in place by an electro-magnet that needed to be plugged in to release the latching mechanism!

You could fit the contents of 20 good size safe deposit boxes in that hole, with space left over!

When they sold the house and moved, they weren't sure if they should tell the new owner about the hiding place...and they didn't...because they figured that the new owner would think they were oddballs. So one day, when the new owners remodel, they're going to find this strange large void, with magnets, batteries, an electronic release mechanism, and a manual pull lever...and probably wonder what secret satanic rituals were going on in their house!!!

We used to joke that if the house caught fire or there was a storm, we had more reason than most to run down to the basement!!!

BobaFett72 · March 20, 2007 3:31AM

"No, I hide my expensive coins and the few ozs of platinum and gold I have in my HP printer tray in my office."

Where do you work

and what time do you take lunch?

RichR · March 20, 2007 3:36AM

On a slightly more serious note...the use of secret compartments in houses is probably how most people unexpectedly find a treasure trove in a house they purchased...when the original owner dies without heirs. They stashed the stuff, but never told anyone where to look for it if something should ever happen to them. That actually happened to an elderly neighbor...she became a recluse and died in her 90's after living in the same house for 60 years.

The stacks of money and valuables that the ambulance crews found that day (when they found her body) was unbelievable! Anyone with sticky fingers made out well on that call!

RichR · March 20, 2007 3:37AM

On a slightly more serious note...the use of secret compartments in houses is probably how most people unexpectedly find a treasure trove in a house they purchased...when the original owner dies without heirs. They stashed the stuff, but never told anyone where to look for it if something should ever happen to them. That actually happened to an elderly neighbor...she became a recluse and died in her 90's after living in the same house for 60 years.

The stacks of money and valuables that the ambulance crews found that day (when they found her body) was unbelievable! Anyone with sticky fingers made out well on that call!

MajorDuty · March 20, 2007 3:38AM

<< I won't say if I have, I won't say if I haven't!!

>>

Well then why ask us if we have?

RichR · March 20, 2007 3:43AM

Kinda makes you wonder what eople are hiding in all those Public Storage bins across the country, doesn't it...

Furniture...
Coins...
Cars...
Boats...
Guns...
Nuclear weapons...
Etc...etc...

And to think that the off-site storage business is relatively new and people actually had to keep all their stuff IN THEIR HOUSES!!! GASP!

boatbldr · March 20, 2007 3:46AM

<< 

<< I won't say if I have, I won't say if I haven't!!

>>

Well then why ask us if we have? >>

Need to read between the lines. Basically wondering how popular this idea is, and whether I'm off my rocker.

RichR · March 20, 2007 3:59AM

If you're handy, have a good out of the way place scoped out, and your safe deposit fees are becoming prohibitive (we were up to $1500/year), then it's definitely worth the effort...plus you have the added benefit of being able to look at your stuff whenever you want.

But once again...you have to be creative...and make any potential burgler work (and waste time) to crack the "DeVinci Code." Since most burglers like to get in and get out quickly, they don't want to waste time looking for hidden compartments.

But the key to all of this is that you can't tell anyone about it...not even your best friend...and as few extended family members as possible. Like I said earlier, the only time my wife of many years found out about the compartment in my parent's house was when we helped them pack and move...SURPRISE.

And, oh yeah, empty air conditioner sleeves (when properly reinforced) also make for good "temporary" storage...you just need to keep the face plate on to make it all look legit from inside a room!

rbf · March 20, 2007 4:26AM

<< But the key to all of this is that you can't tell anyone about it...not even your best friend...and as few extended family members as possible. >>

I agree 100%.

Having a secret compartment or room is great if you live alone and never tell a soul. But once your wife, kids, or any other family member or friend knows of its existence, your secret is pretty much worthless. Why? It's not necessarily that you can't trust them, it's just that people gossip about things like that. They can't help it - it's human nature!

When coin collectors get robbed, it's almost always an inside job. Unfortunately, if somebody KNOWS you have something valuable and wants it bad enough, no safe, secret room, safe deposit box, or anything else will do you any bit of good. Period. Like RichR said, being discreet is the key!

RotatedRainbows · March 20, 2007 4:33AM

<< We recently acquired a safe deposit box and moved everything to it. I sleep better at night and besides........ I'd hate to have to shoot someone over a coin........ >>

Although I have had my box for 20 years.

notwilight · March 20, 2007 4:44AM

<< We recently acquired a safe deposit box and moved everything to it. I sleep better at night and besides........ I'd hate to have to shoot someone over a coin........ >>

Don't be complacent. If you thought a bad guy might suspect you had coins in the house, how is he going to know that you now have a safe deposit box??? Whatever you thought might lure him to your house (deliveries from Heritage, Superiour, etc for example) may still be in existance. If you don't want the bad guys coming, don't move the loot but eliminate the advertizing...for example, my gargage is cleverly disguised a a junk repository...or maybe it's not a disguise.

Second, I have a neighbor who was doing an office upgrade and hinged a bookcase into a hidden room under the stairs. It is very cool. I might copy if if I had a similar floor plan.

percyb · March 20, 2007 4:48AM

I hide them on the dining room table half the time.

tander123 · March 20, 2007 4:49AM

I haven't but sounds like a good idea. Does anyone have any good plans?

Cladiator · March 20, 2007 4:51AM

I built a secret compartment in the basement of my neighbors house. Then I dug a secret tunnel from my basement to his.

19Lyds · March 20, 2007 4:57AM

When I lived in Texas, I had built a false back to the lower section of some cabinets I had. I just put in 2 inch stand-offs and then affixed velcro to the standoff and a piece of finished backing wood. 99 out of a 100 times burglar proof but no fire protection at all.

All the good stuff goes to my secret safety deposit box.

tightbudget · March 20, 2007 4:58AM

Everything is on the end table next to my bed. Except for some unc Morgans that I put in a Wayte Raymond album, that resides in a safe.

boatbldr · March 20, 2007 5:03AM

<< I haven't but sounds like a good idea. Does anyone have any good plans? >>

See the link I put halfway down the 1st page of the thread. It has some good ideas. I have another book even better that has detailed plans on how to devise various release mechanisms that is very ingenious. I'll see if I can find a link.

Here is a REALLY good book:

http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Rooms-Compartments-Jerry-Dzindzeleta/dp/0967113903

Emindenver · March 20, 2007 5:10AM

BobGreene · March 20, 2007 5:22AM

My grandfather, a carpenter, built furniture as a hobby during the depression and he usually built hiding places into every piece of furniture he built. Many are very difficult to find if you don't know what you're looking for. I'm sure that a few pieces are still floating around out there in which the current owners have no idea of the secret compartments.

mozeppa · March 20, 2007 6:26AM

all my valuables are out in plain view of anyone who'd live long enough to recognize them as valuable.

..........by that time they also learn the value of life...but by then it 'd be too late.

Coxe · March 20, 2007 6:53AM

<< Kinda makes you wonder what eople are hiding in all those Public Storage bins across the country, doesn't it...

Furniture...
Coins...
Cars...
Boats...
Guns...
Nuclear weapons...
Etc...etc...

And to think that the off-site storage business is relatively new and people actually had to keep all their stuff IN THEIR HOUSES!!! GASP! >>

Stuff guys who were bachelors for too long can't part with but the wife won't let in the house: porn, billiards trophies, beer signs, bongs, Bowers & Ruddy catalogues, ....

RYK · March 20, 2007 6:54AM

I keep all my expensive coins at Longacre's house. I do not want to take any chances.

FullStrike · March 20, 2007 7:14AM

I've often thought that perhaps an underground vault, like the one that Binion guy had, would be an excellent storage solution for my Coin Collection.

No way I have the construction skills needed, so of course I'd need to hire a contractor. Don't have that sort of cash though. No way I'm getting a loan, either.

Maybe if I sold all my coins?

bluelobster · March 20, 2007 7:17AM

The bank is without a doubt the safest, a hidden compartment or false closet could work.
Safes IMHO are safe for the coins most of the time but could be very dangerous to the inhabitants of the house, If you really have a large amount of coins or other valuables and a serious thief knows you have a safe, not one he or they could carry out, they might just force the homeowners to open it and that usually does not end well.

IGWT · March 20, 2007 7:21AM

<< I keep all my expensive coins at Longacre's house. I do not want to take any chances.

>>

Don't you store your collection in the secret refrigerator drawers?

JJM · March 20, 2007 7:23AM

If well tell it wont be secret anymore silly

dorancoins · March 20, 2007 8:12AM

In the back of my mind I thought about it, and then again, I refer to my office as the "War Room", the chair in the office as the "Atilla The Hun Chair", the big computer as the WAPR (pronounced Whopper) (from the 1983 movie "Wargames") and the laptop computer as the WAPR Jr.. My wife never gets in there and quite frankly, I am on an ego trip.

lathmach · March 20, 2007 8:37AM

Oh yes of course I have, boatbldr.
I'll PM you the blueprints, and a yahoo map to my house.

Ray

fastrudy · March 20, 2007 9:14AM

"three people can keep a secret, if two are dead"- Ben Franklin

thisnamztaken · March 20, 2007 9:14AM

Maybe yes - but then again, maybe no.

ipmman · March 20, 2007 9:47AM

Yes, and I have a billion dollars worth of valuables in it and I tell everyone I know all about it, and post it all over the internet as well.

gamr0n · March 20, 2007 9:54AM

I have a "she who must not be named" sign to scare off any intruders or collectors of so called widgets and moderns.

Have any of you built a secrect compartment or room?

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