Holiday photos on Facebook - you are NOT going to get burgled

[TaterTots]

I've seen a couple of FB-related threads on here lately where the topic of holiday photos has come up. There have been several posts along the lines of 'why would you post holiday pics, you're letting the world know your house is empty, it's practically an invitation to burglars' etc.

Is it just me or is this a) ridiculously paranoid and b) blatantly not true for many reasons?

1. It's very easy to make your profile visible to friends only, which most people do. If you're worried someone on your friends list might take the opportunity to burgle you, why the hell are they on your friends list?

2. Even if you do have an open profile, surely you'd have to put your address on it as well to be at any risk? Surely no one is that daft?

3. Do thieves really trawl FB in the desperate hope of finding an open profile complete with full address, the owner of which conveniently happens to be on holiday? Wouldn't it be a better idea to watch actual houses in the area for signs of emptiness?

4. Who the hell has an FB friends list full of potential thieves?!

I know 1and 4 are essentially the same point, but I feel it's so salient that it's worth repeating.

Those of you saying it's just what teenagers do, surely only if they have no respect for you when you have specifically asked them not to?

My DC are nowhere near perfect but if I ask them with reasoning not to post of Fb then they don't do it. Not because I stand over them but because I have asked nicely and they respect my feelings.

There is 100% no way I canstop my adult sons and their adult girlfriends uploading a picture. Even if I explained it to them they would still probably think nah never happen or one picture won't hurt.

Take it from someone working for an insurance company, 9 times out of 10 your insurance won't be invalidated becuase a 16 year old girl uploaded holiday snaps.

In fact in not sure I've ever heard of anyone's insurance not paying out for a break in becuase of their holiday pictures being on Facebook.

Same 2016

Especially if I explained the insurance thing and the fact their XBoxes/music collections/games collections/TVs/Computers and every thing else in the house couldn't be replaced.

If they really wanted to advertise the holiday, I'd make bloody sure they mentioned my PILs were here.

But if the house was empty, I'd make bloody sure they understood why we'd need to wait until we got home before they posted about the holiday.

heidibb Would the insurance company even know about you uploading pictures whilst you're away? Surely they don't go through you're social media accounts looking for excuses not to pay out?

What mrshathaway said ^^

Your insurer may not cover you if you've advertised on social media that you are away.

Quite apart from that, if you're on holiday with your family having a nice time what the fuck are you doing with your face buried in a smartphone???

Fucking enjoy your family time, any one of them could get hit by a bus tomorrow!!
I just don't understand the need to constantly update the world about what a great time you're having - just enjoy your holiday and (if you must) post a dozen of the best pics when you get home.

Heidibb it's more than possible.

Google link to MANY warnings from various sources

Bloody hell, don't be a drama queen. It takes 30 seconds to take a picture and upload it. Especially when using an app like snapchat, you're taking the photo on the same app you use to send it.

My holidays are used to relax and get a tan, not be busy busy busy all the time. We have maybe one or two days out, the rest of the time were chilling by the pool or on the beach. Being on your phone whist sunbathing is the same as reading a book surely?

And I'm certainly being more social awake on my phone than when I'm having my afternoon nap on my sun lounger!

Being on your phone whist sunbathing is the same as reading a book surely?

Yes, this ^

It's not a myth that insurance companies don't pay out, if someone has advertised their home as being empty for any period of time.

It comes under the 'reasonable care' clause and a quick Google shows that the Financial Ombudsmen Service has revealed that insurance claims can be rejected if victims have helped the criminals by uploading details to social media.

We house swap so house full of enormous Americans.

insurance claims can be rejected if victims have helped the criminals by uploading details to social media. The key word being can It's always considered, yes, but very rarely is your claim rejected for something like that alone.

And absolutely I agree with those saying it only takes seconds to upload pics/check in on social media.

It doesn't require anyone to have their heads buried in a phone.

You could upload a few pics while waiting for the shower to become free, or while sunbathing etc.

HeidiBb how do you know how many claims are rejected in the UK?

Do you have any stats?

Presumably that only applies to public social media photos? Or how would they know?

Me and my partner have never been broken into whilst on holiday and I am guilty of uploading pictures to Instagram and snapchat a lot!

My MIL got broken into twice whilst on holiday and once when out for the day. She hadn't posted anything on Facebook, she wasn't even on Facebook when the first 2 happened.

My mum likes to tag everywhere she is ok Facebook and she hasn't been broken into yet years and years ago before social media was around she was broken into.

Probably all based on who's lucky and who wasn't tbh but just thought I'd share!

Yes, undoubtedly based on who's lucky and who isn't.

I have no idea how the insurance companies might know/not know (I suspect it's only through public posts).

But this thread serves as a reminder at least, that people should be checking their policies for any clauses, that talk about social media.

Quite apart from that, if you're on holiday with your family having a nice time what the fuck are you doing with your face buried in a smartphone???

I go on holiday alone. I rely on facebook at least once or twice a day to feel like I have human contact Not everyone has a family to spend time with.

I can't get contents insurance in my house because it doesn't meet regulations. So no reason not to post pictures. Any thieves who see them won't know where I live and if I happen to be burgled while away I can't get a pay out anyway.

I love posting holiday pictures.

We have house/ dog sitters but the burglars wouldn't know that.

*Me and my partner have never been broken into whilst on holiday and I am guilty of uploading pictures to Instagram and snapchat a lot!

My MIL got broken into twice whilst on holiday and once when out for the day. She hadn't posted anything on Facebook, she wasn't even on Facebook when the first 2 happened. *

Yeah, my grandad smoked a pack a day and lived to be 90, so all this population level data about smoking being bad for you is bollocks

I dont believe that there are people who stalk around FB looking for holiday photos as a way of identifying people to burgle, but it does increase awareness that you're away to a much broader circle (my sister has 1000+ FB friends) , and a chance comment in the pub/ shop/school/ workplace could be overheard by someone whose hobby is B&E, so I don't think the advice is over-cautious.