Is Facebook Putting Your Home at Risk?

 

It is a common misconception that burglary is an opportunistic crime. In nearly half of all burglary cases, the victim knew the offender or knew of them, 31% knew them well and 20% are known by sight or from a previous conversation. So how are criminals finding the opportunity to rob you and your family?

As more of us join social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram, criminals are using your profile to monitor your movements; seeking the perfect opportunity to break into your property.

For example, celebrities such as footballer John Terry was a victim of a burglary in February 2017. Terry was away on a family ski trip and posted holiday pictures on his social media accounts. During their investigation, the police believed the posts gave opportunistic thieves a clear indication that his property was unoccupied.

Risky Posts
A recent survey found that there are currently over 90,000 risky social media posts that were identified as belonging to a UK resident. A risky post can include clear indications that you are away from the house, or may include pictures of new cars, gadgets or jewellery, which act as a tempting incentive to would-be thieves.

Most Common Social Media “Bad Habits” by Region
Of the 90,000 posts analysed, more than 80% were regarding upcoming holidays, making this the worst habit to have when it comes to social media.

The study also investigated the region with the highest percentage of risky social media posts, with the South East, North West and North East named the riskiest regions.

The below chart takes each region’s percentage of risk and pits it against the national average and assigns them a score depending on how it compares.
Stephen Roberts, marketing manager at Yale UK, said: “With nearly 45 million social media users in the UK alone, sharing your personal details and whereabouts on social media sites can put your home and belongings in a vulnerable position. It’s vital that users keep an eye on their security settings to prevent being opportunistically targeted by online criminals.

“Alongside updating security settings, upgrading your home security can also deter potential burglars from making your home their next target. Investing in a high-quality security system from a reputable brand will help secure and protect your home, even if you happen to share too much on social media.”

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