Invisible Themepark

Category: Secret Panels

  • Make a Secret Wall Hiding Place That No One Will Ever Find

    Make a Secret Wall Hiding Place That No One Will Ever Find

    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

    Cut Hole in Drywall Before Inserting Box

    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

    Slip Wire Through Back of Electrical Box

    See:  How to Install a Remodel Electrical Box

    Wire Up Outlet to the Wire

    Attach Wire to Back or Side of Outlet

    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

    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

    Attach Box to Wall

    Slip Container Into Wall First

    Insert Container Into Wall

    Attach Face Plate to Outlet

    Attach Face Plate to Outlet

     

    Video

  • Hiding Space in HVAC Vent? Interesting But Still a Dumb Idea.

    Hidden compartments in houses take all shapes and forms:  electrical outlets, hollow books, fake CDs, false cabinet fronts.  But what about the heating system? Any dope dealer or jewel thief will tell you that it's easy enough to unscrew the heating register (grille) and stow drugs or diamonds in the metal ductwork.  You can improve on this by taping the stash to the top of the duct or even using magnets. Anybody who has ever watched the TV series Breaking Bad knows that Walter White, for a period, tapes his cash to the inside of the heating register. But what about creating a dedicated HVAC compartment?

    Hidden Safes, Inc. offers an HVAC vent hiding compartment, and they say that it
    ...opens like a drawbridge revealing the Secret compartment. The air vent secret compartment comes completely assembled with 2 removable shelves, and 4 fasteners. Simply cut a hole in the drywall or paneling using a razor knife or hacksaw blade and put 4 screws in and you’re finished!

    Flaws With This System

    Nice idea.  But other than the high cost of $259.95 + $15 shipping, I see a few flaws:
    • Is this supposed to be an HVAC return?  A return is a large vent that sucks room air back into the system, so that it can be recirculated.  Thus...
    • If the heat or AC is running, any perceptive thief or lawman will notice that no air is being pulled into vent.
    • If it's not a return, it's a register.  Except registers are located in floors or ceilings.  That's because ducts cannot run through walls.
    • This product requires that you cut space for an entirely new vent.  While it's unlikely that anyone will be counting air vents in your rooms, why not try to be as exact about this as possible?
    Why not design a wall safe vent that fits into the actual HVAC system (rather than just a dummy vent) and which allows for air bypass? You wouldn't be able to get the same volume as with the other vents, but it might be enough to fool someone. In other words, why not just tape your contraband to the inside of the air return--Walter White-style?
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