In times of crisis, theft reflects Maslow's hierarchy of needs, with immediate survival items like food, water, and safety taking priority.

Looting and theft are unfortunate realities following natural disasters.

After Hurricane Milton hit Florida, WFLA in Tampa ran a news story titled, “‘Simply Despicable’: Homeowners who evacuated during Hurricane Milton return to stolen belongings.”

The report states, “Missing from the home was a generator, laptop, backpack, and jewelry. There was a broken safe and an opened can of soup left on the counter.”

Following Hurricane Helene in the Carolinas, WSPA in Asheville ran a news story titled, “Cash reward offered for information about guns stolen after Hurricane Helene.”

According to the article:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation announced on Tuesday a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of people who stole guns from a licensed firearms dealer in Asheville after Hurricane Helene. […] At least one person was able to get into the business while power was out in the area and most buildings and roads in the area were inaccessible. Multiple guns and other devices were stolen in the break in.

These things do happen.

Rather than waiting until the worst-case scenario to prepare, take time today to protect the items most likely to be stolen in a crisis.

To protect your supplies, consider hiding items in multiple locations, using decoy stashes, and securing essential items in hard-to-reach or non-obvious places.

Continue reading to learn which items are most likely to be stolen first and how to hide them.

1. Food and Water

People instinctively prioritize sustenance.

This makes non-perishable foods like canned goods, rice, and beans—as well as bottled water—primary targets.

It’s also why grocery stores and warehouses are among the first to be looted following hurricanes and earthquakes.

There are several different ways to keep your food and water supplies hidden:

• Don’t advertise that you have a stash of emergency food. My Patriot Supply understands secrecy is security, which is why our products come shipped in boxes without product labels. Never let your neighbors know you’re prepared.
  
  
• Don’t keep your whole supply in one spot. Put smaller, less expensive non-perishables in a cabinet to distract looters from the long-term emergency stash hidden under your bed.

2. Fuel and Energy Sources

Gasoline, propane, and firewood become top priorities as access to power dwindles.

When Hurricane Helene struck the Carolinas, police had to be stationed at the few gas stations that remained open.

They were there not only to direct the mass amount of traffic, but also to prevent fights—which did happen.

If people get into physical altercations over gas cans, it’s easy to imagine people stealing fuel sources when they are readily available.

Don’t make yourself a target:

• Keep fuel sources locked up.
• Leave decoy empty gas containers outside of the garage to deter thieves.
• Use a chain and lock to attach your propane tank to a secure mount.

3. Generators

Generators are a hot commodity following a crisis that causes a mass power outage.

The Sonoma Index-Tribune reported, “Generator theft is on the rise in Sonoma during outages.”

Not only were thieves stealing generators from homes, but they were even brazenly walking out of Home Depot with generators they never paid for.

If you have a gas-powered generator, you cannot use it indoors.

This means you must leave it outdoors, where thieves can potentially steal it.

Here are some tips:

• Try to conceal your generator. Don’t leave it where it is easily visible from the street.
• Use strong locks.
• Consider purchasing a storage unit for your generator, so it is out of sight when not in use.
• Mark your generator up, such as painting it or writing your initials on it, so it will be easily identifiable and less likely to be stolen.

[Related Read: Navigating the Aftermath: Hiding Signs of Life after Disaster]

4. Prescription Drugs

If you have prescription drugs in your home and people know… well, that makes you a potential target.

Prescription drug theft is a huge problem, especially following a crisis when addicts cannot get their usual fix.

Or when someone needs a certain medication you’ve got to survive.

Here’s how you can protect your important medication:

• Don’t advertise the medications you have or share your medications.
• Have a decoy prescription box and hide the rest in various locations in your home—under the sofa, in your sock drawer, etc.
• Keep prescription medications stored in a medication lock box.

5. Guns and Ammo

Guns and ammo are valuable—even more so in an emergency, as evidenced in the headlines mentioned earlier.

You absolutely do not want your guns to end up in someone else’s hands.

Try these tips to keep that from happening:

• Obtain a concealed weapon permit so you can keep your gun on you.
• When your gun isn’t on your person, store guns in a secure, locked gun cabinet.
• Consider hiding guns in different gun safes around your property so that if a thief does break into your gun cabinet, he doesn’t get everything you have. For instance, place a gun safe under your bed, conceal a gun safe behind a panel in your bedroom, or install a safe under a false floor.

6. Camping Gear

If homes are damaged during a crisis or there’s an extended power outage, people will need camping gear.

Off-grid items such as sleeping bags, outdoor grills, and lanterns will be sought after. If you leave these things out where others can see them, they may take them.

Protect your gear with these tips:

• Keep camping gear in a locked storage bin when not in use.
• Mark your items so it will be harder for thieves to pretend your stuff is theirs.
• Use locks and chains for items like your Ember Off-Grid Biomass Oven.
• Set up simple alarms to alert you to possible thieving at your campsite or at home.

#7 Valuables and Other Items

When it comes to looting following disasters, we tend to picture people breaking into stores and stealing clothes, shoes, and televisions.

This does happen, but it may not be the priority.

When a crisis first happens, most people aren’t thinking about getting a new TV. However, if you give a thief an opportunity, they are going to take it.

In other words, if you leave your doors unlocked and windows open, you run the risk of a thief getting into your home and taking valuables simply because there’s an opportunity.

Reduce attention and protect your property, friends.

In liberty,

Elizabeth Anderson

Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply