Are you tipping off crooks your family is on vacation?
Although I love seeing real-time photos and commentary on Facebook from friends traveling it also worries me, they’re just letting crooks know “Hey come rob our house. We’re out of town!” (Here’s a round up story on the trend and tips to stop it. The Leaf Chronicle.)
I guess Facebook is safer than Twitter because in theory it’s only “Friends” seeing your feed whereas Twitter goes out to the world.
I had to ask Michael to please stop posting on Twitter: “Getting on a airplane for Phoenix” or “Assigned for two weeks to Washington, D.C.” I’m sure criminals read those posts as: “My wife will be home alone with three kids!”
I commiserated PRIVATELY by email on Facebook with a CNN wife recently when her husband was sent for weeks to California to cover Michael Jackson and my husband was sent for weeks to Washington, D.C. to work on the Sotomayer coverage.
There are also low-tech ways to tip off criminals your family is away on vacation:
People always say not to let your newspapers or mail build up, but do you worry when you put on stop on your newspaper or hold on your mail that now you’ve told someone you’re going to be out of town? My parents always had neighbors pick up the mail and papers but that’s a bother for a long trip.
I kind of like doing putting the holds on through automated services, but then the carrier does know it’s been held.
Do you put lights on timers to help throw criminal off? Our former neighbors were very big on the lights on timers. My mother always did that too.
A few years ago, our new neighbor made a point to pull his car into our driveway several times during our vacation week so it looked like there was traffic in and out, which I thought was extremely nice!
Do you worry about people knowing you’re away on vacation or do you think that is paranoid? Do you post real-time commentary and family photos from your trips on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think one is safer than the other? How do you handle mail, newspapers and lights? What are other tactics to throw criminals off your scent?
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58 comments Add your comment
April
July 23rd, 2009
4:39 pm
DB, I completely agree with you on the personal boundaries thing.
nurse&mother
July 23rd, 2009
5:44 pm
DB I too worry about a house fire (maybe because I have lived through one). Ok, I was only three, BUT… I always make sure things are unplugged and turned off. I also won’t leave any lights or electronics/appliances on for ANY length of time while I am away from the house (be it for 5 minutes or 5 days).
As far as facebook goes, if you are a close enough friend, you already know where I live as well as my itenerary. Maybe I should worry more, but I don’t.
Kathy
July 23rd, 2009
6:34 pm
April and newmom….I am SOOOOOOOOOOO glad there are others out there who could care less about Facebook! I have a few friends that give me such a hard time about it – “You need to do Facebook!” NO I DON”T!!!! I barely have enough time to check my email and this blog is the one little internet indulgence I have. I have a busy 4 year old to take care of and a household to run….I don’t care about others “25 things you don’t know about me” and if I really wanted to know I would have a face to face conversation about them with you! And my life is just not that interesting that I need to share every little detail with every single person I know and have every known! Yes DB…..some people have forgotten all about personal boundaries!! AARRGGHH!!! Sorry y’all…..I just had to rant a little.
Going away…we do the whole timers on the lights, neighbor picks up the mail, we alert the alarm company so that if it goes off they dispatch the police immediately. I only tell the people who need to know where we are going.
fk
July 23rd, 2009
6:48 pm
I clean my house, too, and take care of the laundry as well b/f a vacation, weekends away, etc. I’m not a neat freak…it’s just a good time to do that sort of stuff. My husband thinks it’s crazy. I always leave lights on timers, even when we’re home. The computer, TV, etc., extra freezer are all unplugged while we’re gone. Although we’ve never shut off the main water valve, we do cut the water to the washing machine.
About FB, I’m fairly new, and I’ve wound up elsewhere by clicking links to comments, only to forget where I started. Some people do share waaaay too much info. If I want to talk to a “real” friend, I pick up the phone. FB is great to catch up with those who live too far away to visit. I enjoy seeing their pics, hearing about events or milestones, etc. However, I had a bit of a disturbing incident with a neighbor. He invited me to be his fb friend although I’d never met him…found me via the email address. You never know who is forwarding your stuff. Talk to me on the internet but not in the n’hood? I ignored the request. The guy is creepy.
For the most part, the burglary aspect is not an issue, but I do have reservations, and have addressed the concerns with the other “facebookers” in our home. I’m not concerned about a complete stranger burglarizing my home, but an acquaintance of a friend, etc., friends my kid’s friends or something. I have been adamant about anyone not posting any info. regarding travel plans. Years ago, long before facebook, my nephew’s friends all made themselves at home while they were away. The back door did not lock and they had a party without the homeowners or their kids. Needless to say, the lock was fixed.
If someone is were to break into my home, I’d rather it be while I’m away than when I’m (or anyone else is) at home. Just not going to send out an announcement or invitations advising when we’ll be away…
DB, a woman at work was away on vacation when lightning struck her home. It did not go up in flames, but there was enough smoke and water damage to force them out for a few months. Some things just can’t be avoided.
nurse&mother
July 23rd, 2009
7:18 pm
Theresa, how is your brother? I hope he is doing well.
Cammi317
July 24th, 2009
10:34 am
The only people who can see my posts are my supposed friends, so if I get robbed as a result of posting I am going on vacation on Facebook, I have bigger problems. I always leave my front porch light on everyday, all day, anyway. The only thing I do differently when I am gone is I leave an interior garage light on, so at night you can see light from the bottom of the doors and I leave the upstairs hall light on as well so light illuminates through the blinds. When I am packing up my car to go, I do it with the garage door closed. Also, I check normally only bother to check my mail box about 2x a week, so my mail not being checked for a several days at a time is nothing unusual.
JJ
July 24th, 2009
2:03 pm
I enjoy FB, and have found several friends from high school, and from my youth. I think it’s a blast reconnecting with old friends.
I recently had lunch with 2 friends I found on FB that I had not seen in 25 years. Oh what a stroll down memory lane we had. It was great!!!!!
Now a bunch of us are planning a reunion. We have all gone about our lives, and we want to see each other face to face. We are planning a huge reunion in September. I can’t wait to see everyone…….
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