Does your social network activity your home’s safety? The answer might be “yes”. A survey was recently released that suggested the majority of burglars are now using social media web sites, such as Facebook & Twitter to help target potential victims. Keep that in mind the next time you consider tweeting your vocation plans or whereabouts, and read on to find out more social media’s effect on your home security.
As everyone leaps into the digital world, so have criminals. They are really taking advantage of social media and the people's open communication on these sites. People are giving burglars too much information on Facebook and Twitter and that gives them the opportunity to break in. A poll conducted by MetLife Auto & Homes in the U.S shows that: 15% of Americans use social media to report that they left their home.35% of Americans age18-34 check in or tweet about their location
Of the convicted burglars questioned, 78% of burglars use facebook, twitter and foursquare to target potential properties，74% of burglars use Google street view to scope out potential homes before they strikes.
They said that they used Facebook and Twitter - where users 'check in' to locations - as it was a useful source of information, providing you with where someone was and when they wouldn't be at home.
How can we prevent this?
1 Set your facebook privacy settings to allow only your friends to see your content.
2 Only add actual friends into your network
3 Retain from announcing that you will be out of town for an extended period of time
4 Don’t post photos that reveal your address or landmarks near your home
5 Avoid posting of expensive items in your home
According to Ex-burglars
80% of burglars reveal that the first attempt at breaking into a property is usually unsuccessful.
They usually must return to a property a number of times before they successfully break in
78% of burglars admit that a cheap and simple home alarm system would completely deter them from targeting a home
On the flipside
If you use it in a proper way, it will also help to catch the burglars. Here is an example, with the use of in-home surveillance cameras, Matt Schubert of Pittsboro Ind.,Indiana,captured footage of two burglars robbing his home ,Schubert immediately posted image of the suspect on a Facebook page he created called “Break In Pittsboro, IN” and ask that the community help him identify him. He received over 500 emails within 36 hours and successfully identified the thieves. This is only one of many stories of how social media can be employed to capture thieves.
