Materials on exhibit are especially vulnerable to theft and mutilation. Exhibits featuring rare or other special materials can attract thieves or vandals.

Exhibit cases should be within a controlled area so that they are under surveillance, and safely secured when the control point is closed. The cases should be securely locked and constructed from materials difficult to dismantle or damage. For example, rather than ordinary glass, which can be easily broken, a sturdy plastic sheet should be used, such as Lexan, Plexiglas, or Perspex. Libraries sometimes connect exhibit cases to an alarm system to further discourage theft.

Flat exhibit cases should never be in areas where drinks or other liquids are available, as a carelessly placed container can spill into the case through the seams on the upper surface.

Artifacts displayed in wall-mounted frames should similarly be within a controlled area. The frames should be constructed from materials that are difficult to breach and secured to the wall by a method that requires considerable effort to remove.