If you’re looking for a secret wall hiding place, YouTube and other recesses of the Web usually point you to a method that involves an electrical box, outlet, and face place. You install an electrical box in the wall or use an existing (non-wired) one, add a dummy outlet, add a dummy face plate. Behind that dummy outlet and plate is your trillion dollar bill.
Now, it’s a cute little hiding spot, and I like it, except for one problem: it is so easy to discover and everyone knows about it. All a thief or nosy spouse or parent needs to do is to remove the face plate. The valuables are immediately visible right behind the outlet.
My secret wall hiding place method is so much better and it is practically impossible to find. When the interloper takes off the face plate, he or she sees an apparently wired up outlet. Wires come up through the wall and are attached to the outlet. Nothing to the side or behind the outlet. What’s the secret?
The outlet is dead and the wires are only about 18″ long. At one end, the wires attach to the outlet in a normal fashion. At the other end, the wires attach to a container small enough to fit in the rectangle that you cut for the electrical box.
[process_steps]
[process_step link=”#” new_tab=”no” title=”Create Hole” icon=”1″]Cut space in wall big enough for new electrical box.[/process_step]
[process_step title=”Attach Outlet” icon=”2″]Attach one end of 12 or 14 gauge wire to outlet.[/process_step]
[process_step title=”Attach Container” icon=”3″]Attach other end of wire to a valuables container”[/process_step]
[process_step title=”Insert” icon=”3″]Insert in wall and close up.[/process_step]
[/process_steps]
How to Do It
Tools and Materials
- Remodel or old-work electrical box
- About 18″ of 14 or 12 gauge NM or Romex wire
- Outlet
- Container for the valuables
- Jab saw
- Cordless drill
Cut Hole in Wall
In the electrical section of Home Depot or any other home improvement store, purchase an item called a remodel or old-work electrical box. This is cheap–no more than a dollar or two–and installs very easily. See directions below.
Choose an interior wall as exterior walls contain insulation, which impede installation. Choose a section of the wall equidistant between two other outlets, if possible, or on a wall that is not served by an outlet. This further makes your fake outlet appear to be real.
Insert Wire in Back of Box
See: How to Install a Remodel Electrical Box
Wire Up Outlet to the Wire
Attach the wire to the outlet: white wire to silver terminal, black wire to gold terminal, bare copper wire to green screw. Make it look like an authentically installed, not faux, outlet.
Attach Other End of Wire to Container
You can use anything that closes up and which fits through the hole in the wall. In this case, I used a thoroughly cleaned mustard container.
Attach Box and Outlet to Wall
Slip Container Into Wall First
Attach Face Plate to Outlet
