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Apple Exec Stashed $150,000 In Shoe Boxes
angry tapir writes "US federal agents found more than US$150,000 in cash when they searched the house of Apple manager Paul Devine earlier this month, according to prosecutors. 'He had over $150,000 stored in shoe boxes,' Department of Justice Attorney Michelle Kane said. Devine was charged two weeks ago with taking kickbacks from Apple suppliers."
One of the problems with stashing $150,000 in cash is that you lose some $4,500/yr (or more) due to inflation. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Historical_Inflation_Ancient.svg
Perhaps he just didn't think he would get caught since the money wasn't going through banks. After all, that's pretty much what I would do. Actually, that's where I would start. Then I would probably set up some sort of business, accept "cash payment" for whatever services rendered and then pay some taxes to make it all look legitimate. I know... that just makes too much sense, but then again, I believe my greed has limits where many others' does not.
Ah, er, hey old article, help me out here... "The alleged scheme used an elaborate chain of US and foreign bank accounts and one front company to receive payments, the indictment said, and code words like 'sample' were used to refer to the payments so that Apple co-workers wouldn't become suspicious."
Sounds like he thought of everything except what to do with the money once it was in his hands. What ever happened to burying it?
People lacking a significant criminal background ALWAYS tend to be stupid when it comes to hiding cash. Especially once you reach a certain amount where hiding it within your house requires multiple hiding spots. Wall sockets, light switches, and inside of old, large electronics (CRT monitors, VHS players) with difficult-to-remove siding are all viable home storage locations. Then again, it really depends on what your goals are. If you want to hide money so well that no one will find it, get some custom furniture with places to hide cash that can be built around the cash, so the couch (or table, sometimes) must be physically destroyed to access it.
Most people who store lots of cash tend to be stupid about it. They place it in a location that is difficult for them to get to, say, under some boxes, or in the back of the closet. Thing is, someone who wants that cash couldn't care less about what they destroy in the process to get it.
/tinfoil hat on/ Ideally, to hide large sums of cash in your home, you need to determine what percent must be easily accessible, accessible, and largely inaccessible. Easily accessible means that it takes you less than a minute to get to it. A 500 count jar of advil is a great place to store a roll of cash, and then pour the pills back over it. (Also have some underneath). Food containers also work well for this (Cereal, milk jug, etc).
For accessible, but not easily so, you have more options. Generally, this category can fall into "Things with screws." As previously mentioned, a CRT monitor or VHS player with removable back/side/bottom works wonders for hiding things. My favorite was a radio receiver from 1980 that went with some other stereo equipment. It had 6 screws on the bottom, and there was a thin space for hiding something flat between it and the circuit board. The panel was slightly smaller than the gap, too, so you could see the circuit board 1cm away, but the panel was big enough to hide any cash. Another great place is to take your door off the wall, remove the hinges (from the wall) and drill into that area. It is easy cut in deep enough to store something. Lastly, most light switches or wall outlets have a small gap in the wall, which is perfect for storing a roll. Oh, and also, a favorite: Get 2 fairly large cuts of prewrapped meat at the supermarket, and unwrap them. Throw 1 away, and keep the white bottom tray. Put some cash between that tray and the other one (with the meat on it) and then press the edges together, put the meat back on top, and then wrap it really tightly (even better to reuse the wrap it came with) and then throw it in the freezer.
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