Online Discretion Can Avoid Unwanted Home Insurance Claims

9/14/2010

Homeowners have numerous things to consider when trying to avoid burglaries, especially when they are planning a vacation.

For example, home insurance experts typically advise people to plan to have their mail and newspapers picked up to avoid attracting attention from would-be thieves. Some people even install programmable lights that can turn on and off at particular times to create the illusion that somebody is at home. In many cases, a home insurance discount is available to those who invest in a burglar alarm or other security upgrades.

However, people who are meticulous about home security may be inclined to overlook a lesson that a growing number of people around the country have been learning - to avoid posting one's vacation plans on social media websites.

A recent report from New England Cable News focused on the success that police in Nashua, New Hampshire had in breaking up a local burglary ring that stole more than $100,000 worth of goods in more than 50 break-ins.

The news network noted that the burglars had apparently selected victims who posted their whereabouts away from home on their Facebook profiles. Since this tactic has been used in previous cases, homeowners should remember to be discrete when posting information about their whereabouts.

ShareThis