Brits Putting Homes at Risk by Oversharing Online

Instagram users are putting their homes at risk of burglary, with almost half inadvertently sharing photos of their properties on social media, according to new research. ¹ 

Brits under 30 years old are the worst offenders. In fact, of those that share photos of their homes online, over 70 percent are under 30 – more than double the number of older residents. Almost one-third of homeowners over 30 reveal their properties on Instagram.

The public profiles of 500 UK homeowners were analysed as part of the research, with nearly 50 percent posting at least one photograph of their home on the popular social channel. In doing so, homeowners are unwittingly giving burglars large amounts of information that can assist break-ins, including the best means of entry and where valuables are kept.

Conducted by Origin, the leading British window and door brand, in partnership with Secured by Design, the national police crime prevention initiative, the research reveals that the living room is the room that homeowners most commonly share on their Instagram profiles. Photos of expensive televisions, sound systems and other electrical goods were among the images openly shared on social media. 

The master bedroom was second in the list of rooms shared online, despite being the room intruders are most likely to target for jewellery, cash and other valuables ². The kitchen and garden then closely follow as the most likely spaces that homeowners are inadvertently posting on public profiles.

Ben Brocklesby, Director at Origin, said: “We help thousands of UK homeowners improve the security of their homes every year and conducted this research as we wanted more people to be aware of the dangers of oversharing online. Strong and secure doors and windows is just one step to beating the burglar – residents also need to be conscious of what they are sharing online. Something as simple as sharing a photo on a public profile can give burglars a shop window view into your home.”

Photographs of keys by the front door, showing exactly where they are kept during the day, was among the posts analysed during the research. Other posts that were equally as inviting for criminals included photos of expensive cars positioned right outside properties. One user hadn’t turned off location tracking, which means anyone using the social media channel could not only see the car and its number plate, but also exactly where it was kept overnight.

Doug Skins from Secured by Design said: “While it’s great to keep in touch with your friends and family, be careful about what you share online as you never know who else may see your activity.

 “Think seriously about who can read your posts and secure your profile by checking privacy settings. Also, think before you share – do you really need to make that information or photo public?

 “As well as being more careful of what you share online, there are things you can do to protect your home from burglars. Burglars are often opportunistic thieves, who seek any opening they can take advantage of, specifically doors and windows left open or unlocked, or that are easy to force. But it really doesn’t take much to deter these thieves, so always ensure that you securely lock your windows and doors.

 “If you need new windows or doors, we recommend fitting ones which have achieved Police Preferred Specification and are accredited by Secured by Design. These have been tested to ensure they’re robust enough to resist physical attack by opportunistic burglars”.

Ben Brocklesby concluded: “With the rise of interiors influencers sharing photos of their properties online every day, it’s unsurprising that homeowners want to contribute to this trend by proudly sharing photos of the inside of their house with followers. Even something as simple as taking a selfie with friends can mean you’re sharing snippets of your home in the background. By making profiles private and being careful not to share photos of access points and valuables, homeowners can make sure their property stays safe and secure.”

Origin recently achieved Secured by Design accreditation for the doors and windows in its Origin Home range. The top accolade is awarded to high-quality, innovative products and processes, designed to help reduce crime. For further information about Origin, please visit www.origin-global.com.