Simple Steps To Deter Burglars While You're Away On Vacation

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The second your plane touches down, you switch on your phone and fire off a post on Instagram. "Just arrived in Paris!" you write. "Can't believe we only have a week! But we'll make the most of it! So glad we found a dog sitter at the last minute!" You're excited to share the details of your trip. Every hour or so, you add another photo or video. You're even using this unexpected tip to take the best photos of your life. Your posts rack up likes and comments. You feel good, connecting with family and workmates in this instantaneous way. It's almost like they're there with you. You're so glad you live in the era of social media.

But there's someone else who may love your social media posts: burglars. From this handful of sentences, a skilled criminal can learn that you're in Paris, you're away from home for a week, and that they should watch out for both a dog and a dogsitter. Everything else you post is fodder for a burglar's research. In short, social media is a lot of fun, but you also bleed personal data, especially when you're traveling far away and your home is most vulnerable to thieves. The solution isn't to hide your trip; it's to wait to post until you have safely returned.

"As tempting as it may be, avoid posting about your vacation in real time on social media," says Joanne McNellis, Founder and CEO of the company Travel Safety Solutions, who spoke with Explore about home security for travelers. "[Posting] can alert people that your home is unoccupied. Save the photos and vacation updates for when you return!"

This may sound paranoid, but it's not. According to ABC News, 78% of burglaries in the United Kingdom were planned with the aid of social media, and the ratio is likely similar in other countries. If users are careless about privacy and timing, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok provide a wealth of information to any curious researcher, including criminals.

By default, most social media users should set their accounts to "private." Unless you're an aspiring influencer, there's really no reason to make your personal details public, and the liability can be huge. Accept friendships and connections only from people you know in real life or can confirm are real. Consider waiting until you get home to post about your trip. Instead of constantly taking pictures and videos to document all these experiences in real time, focus on images and encounters that are genuinely moving. Rick Steves has remarked about how social media has changed travel forever, and there's no need for everyday vacationers to rush their content.

Digital technology also works in your favor, according to travel safety expert Joanne McNellis. "Video doorbells and app-connected cameras like Ring are also great tools for monitoring your property remotely," she asserts. "A monitored home alarm system adds an extra layer of protection and peace of mind."

Joanne McNellis has another suggestion as well: Before you travel, make sure your home is as secure as possible. Arm your security system, make sure every door and window is locked, keep valuables in a safe place, and consider leaving a lamp on or a car in the driveway to indicate that someone is home. We tend to focus our attention on feeling safer while traveling, but we often forget to protect the home front. Being far away puts us at a terrible disadvantage, and even a stolen package from our front door can affect a vacation, never mind a full-on burglary.

"One of the most important things you can do is make your home look lived in, even when it is empty," McNellis says. "Stopping your mail through the post office or having a neighbor or family member collect it will prevent packages from piling up. Using an app-connected timer for your lights is also a smart move to create the illusion that someone is home."

"Smart home devices are game changers," adds McNellis. "I highly recommend the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini. It is priced around $25 and lets you control electronics from anywhere in the world, and you can use it any time you leave your house for an extended period of time." If you're going to be away for a while, McNellis also says you might want to consider hiring a house sitter or a using professional home-check services. Finally, don't ignore the small things. McNellis suggests you "trim any overgrown bushes or trees that could offer cover for intruders, and never hide spare keys in obvious spots like under the mat or in a flowerpot. That is the first place burglars check!"