Social media is a great tool for staying in touch with friends and family, or reaching out to new connections online. However, it’s a highly public medium and even if you are vigilant about your privacy settings, posts can easily be shared between platforms and images downloaded.
Unfortunately, unscrupulous criminals exploit the vulnerabilities that can be inadvertently revealed on such platforms, and this can lead to distressing and alarming incidents, including home burglaries.
Anyone who has experienced an intrusive and unsettling break-in will be all too aware of the emotional upheaval and time-consuming after-process, from reporting the crime to clearing up any damage and making insurance claims. Therefore it pays to ensure you use social media in a way that keeps your property safe. Here are some tips.
- Do not advertise when you will be away from home
It is a natural instinct to share good news and talk about an event we are looking forward to with friends and family, but unfortunately professional criminals scour social media sites for information about when people will be away from home. Avoid disclosing any such details before or during your trip.
Take care when posting holiday photos, as potential intruders can use these to track your location. Disable tracking and geotags on your social media, unless you are extremely confident about your home security or privacy and security settings online.
- Avoid posting images or videos that show high-value possessions
Do not post any images on social media that reveal expensive items such as computers, artwork, jewellery, high-end furniture or clothing. This may single your home out as a target for criminals. Always choose a neutral background with any expensive items well out of view when taking pictures.
- Do not reveal personal information or daily routines
Be wary about casually sharing personal information such as your address, whether you live alone or have any pets, where you work and what days and hours of the day you are at work or out doing other activities or chores. Criminals may use this information to plan a break-in.
- Upgrade your home security systems
Regardless of whether you are a social media user or not, it pays to review your home security and make any necessary changes. All locks should be in full working order and measures such as intruder alarms or CCTV can bring extra peace of mind.
- Educate family and friends
Share your concerns with family and friends, and request that they do not share or forward your posts outside of your immediate social networks. If you have children, stress the importance of never sharing any personal information online.
- Be wary of new friend requests
Criminals may create fake profiles in order to gain your trust or that of someone else in your contact group. Be very careful about new requests from unknown people, even if they purport to be from a reputable organisation.
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