How Burglars Use Facebook

More than half of all burglars know their targets personally before they break into homes, according to a press release from a Georgia insurance company.

Now, Facebook and Twitter features that show your location could be making your home more vulnerable.

“Social media is definitely a factor in many of today’s. Instead of watching for mail to accumulate outside your residence, burglars can case your home by simply scanning your Twitter feed and monitoring your Facebook status for any signs you’re away,” said Joanna Moore, Mercury Insurance chief claims officer. “And it’s only getting easier with new features like Facebook Places, which allows users to divulge their exact location by simply checking in.”

To avoid letting potential burglars when your home will be available, officials suggest you:

• Update social media to give the impression that your family is home.
• Don't upload photos of your vacation until after you're home
• Shut-off your home computer and disconnect from the internet. Unattended computers are easy marks for hackers.