Studies have shown that as of 2025, over 5.07 billion people use social media worldwide, including 259 million new users within the last year. This means that the world has never been more connected, and it’s never been easier to stay in touch with loved ones and friends. As new apps and communication methods pop up, however, the list of security risks grows longer.

New research from MPL, the UK’s leading locksmith training company, suggests that four out of five burglars now use social media to target and track their victims. Things like location services and social media posts can draw the wrong type of attention and lead to break-ins and vandalism in some cases, which is why it’s so important to understand how to protect yourself in the digital age.

In this post, we will help you understand how your social media presence can be used by criminals. By listening to the experience of a trusted locksmith to understand of how burglars think and search for victims, you can keep yourself and your property safe. We will break down the key information that burglars look for online, as well as ways to protect your privacy and information.

How to avoid becoming a burglary target online

Accepting friend requests

How well do you know your friends list? Criminals will frequently engage with would-be victims by posing as a seemingly innocent person online. They might send a ‘friend request’ or become a follower of yours on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Once accepted, they typically scour your profile for information or even hop into your inbox to start a conversation. In many cases, burglars will pose as a friend or family member under the guise of a new account, hoping to have better luck with getting their request accepted.

For this reason, it is crucial to verify if the account is legitimate before allowing them to access your profile. If you have another way of reaching out, like with email or text messaging, contact that person offline first. See if the account has any suspicious red flags, such as misspellings in their name. By double-checking accounts like this, you can thwart potential intruders by keeping them away from your private data.

Adjust privacy settings

For many social media services, such as Instagram, you have the option of marking your account as “private”. This prevents users outside of your network from accessing your profile and finding your sensitive information. By adjusting your privacy settings, you can limit who does or does not have access to personal details, such as general or specific location, hobbies, family members, or home dimensions.

Sharing personal information

It is a good idea to never divulge personal information online, especially in public forums or comment sections. Exercise caution when sharing personal details such as your birthday, phone number, and address, even when it seems safe to do so! Your digital footprint can leave clues for burglars to assemble a plan to carry out a robbery. Be wary of who asks you for personal details; there is never a good reason to share your address or daily routine online.

Location check-ins

With today’s smartphones, most devices come equipped with built-in GPS’ which track your location. Additionally, most networking apps will ask for access to this location at all times. This can be extremely helpful, like in the case of Google Maps, but it can also make it easier for criminals to track your whereabouts. You have the option of tagging locations or “checking in” when posting on certain social media platforms, which can signal to burglars that you’re away from your home.

Friedland has also discovered that about 80% of burglars will visit a property multiple times before breaking in. This means that, if a burglar finds you on social media, they can wait and watch for you to post your location, signaling the right time to pounce when you’re at an event, on holiday, or running errands. We recommend that you limit how often you post your location and control who can access your account.

Uploading holiday photos

In the same way that posting your location can put your home in danger, posting pictures or videos while on holiday can cause similar problems. Holidays generally last multiple days, meaning that potential burglars can think that they have ample time to rob you when they see your posts. This doesn’t mean that you have to stop posting altogether, but simply be mindful of when and how you post.

Did you know that every digital photo taken on your smartphone has data that can be gathered? EXIF data is basic information that describes how the image was created. This includes information about your smartphone model and settings, the date and time of the photo, the location the photo was taken, and more.

Any burglar who knows how to extract this information can quickly use it against you. This makes it easy to find your home address, making you a victim. Larger companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will strip private data from photos and videos and replace it with their own, often more private, data. This does not, however, extend to other websites, so be careful when and how you upload your posts!

Taking pictures of valuable items

If you’ve recently acquired a new laptop, piece of jewellery, or anything else shiny, it can be tempting to want to show it off! However, you should be cautious of posting anything valuable online, as this is a quick way to become a target for criminals. Just as you should hide your valuables in safe places at home, you should also adopt the same procedure online. If you do decide to post expensive items online, make sure to limit who can see them.

What else can you do?

Besides staying safe on social media, what else can you do to protect yourself and your property from burglaries?

Ask a locksmith to conduct home security surveys and upgrades

Reaching out to a locksmith to complete a proactive security scan for your property can be a powerful step against home invasions. A professional locksmith can provide expert home security surveys to identify weak points in your home. We check your entry points, including doors and windows, and we can tell you what needs to be reinforced to keep your property safe. Give us a call and receive service in under an hour!

Adopt a security focused mindset

While using social media can make you vulnerable to criminals, safe use of your online presence can lower the risk of encountering crime. With a security-focused mindset, you can keep your information and assets safe while enjoying your connection with friends and family. Outside of social media, there are plenty of other scams and criminal methods to be wary of, so keep security at the top of your priorities online!