How burglars use social media

How to avoid becoming a burglary target online

Accepting friend requests

Do you really know who your friends are online? A common tactic that could be used by burglars is to pose as a seemingly innocent individual who will, once becoming ‘friends’ with you, look for personal information on your page, or hop into your inbox to start a conversation. In some cases, criminals might even disguise themselves as a friend or family member to stand a better chance of having their request accepted - so remain cautious. Confirm whether the account is legitimate before being tempted, or if you don’t think you know the person, consider why they would be adding you in the first place. What would you gain from adding them? Does the profile look suspicious? These are the questions you should be asking yourself before hitting ‘accept’.

Adjust privacy settings

For most social media platforms, there will be an option to set your account as private. By adjusting your privacy settings, you’ll have complete control over who has access to your profile - which will reduce the risk of burglars stumbling across sensitive information. Don’t let your account fall into the wrong hands.

Sharing personal information

Never share your personal information with anyone online, or reveal details in your posts which could later be used against you. Sharing your birthday, phone number or revealing your hometown will benefit a burglar as it might bring them closer to finding your address, or guessing your password. Not sure your account security is the strongest? Check out our guide on how to create a strong password.

Location check-ins

Tagging locations to your posts or checking-in to certain locations online tells a burglar that you’re away from home - automatically making your home a more appealing target for theft. Instead, be cautious of the information you share online, and consider whether it’s necessary to do so.

Uploading holiday snaps

Just as sharing your location can unintentionally make you a target for theft, uploading your holiday snaps might also prick a burglar’s ears up upon seeing that your home is unoccupied. We’re not saying that you need to put a stop to the photos all together, but just be mindful when it comes to uploading. Perhaps set your profile to private for an added layer of privacy. Looking for more information on how to stay safe abroad? Head over to one of our previous articles for our best tips and tricks.

Taking pictures of valuable items

Bought a brand new gadget or piece of tech recently? Be cautious of posting it online to prevent luring a burglar into your home. Just as homeowners are encouraged to hide their belongings in a secure environment, you should adopt the same approach online. If you do want to show off your new favourite toy - we’re all guilty of that - make sure to set your account to private first, and only share with people you trust.

What else can you do?

So, besides staying safe online, what else can you do to avoid your home becoming a target of theft?

Adopt a security focused mindset

Although there are risks involved when using social media, if you take the steps required to protect your profile, you’re more likely to dodge a burglary. There’s a whole host of other scams to be cautious of online, so if you are an avid social media user, adopt a security focused mindset to keep yourself safe.