Cumbria Police are advising everyone who uses social media to be mindful of what they post.
People often update Facebook and Twitter with their activities, keeping their friends and family informed of what they have been up to. However, not all keep up-to-date with their security settings on their social media pages and can unknowingly have open pages for everyone to see.
Also, people do accept friend requests to give their following numbers a boost, without really knowing who the person is.
By putting all of your activities onto an open page, you are advertising when you have been Christmas shopping, when you are going out and when your house is empty. This is an open invitation to thieves who could be following you.
David Thompson, a Crime Prevention Officer in Cumbria Constabulary, said: “Telling people what you are doing is not a bad thing but we are encouraging people to make sure they know who they are telling.
“Simple steps by checking security settings on social media site such as Facebook or Twitter to ensure that only friends and family can see your posts, but not share them to a wider audience, can be one way to prevent your posts being seen by everyone.
“If you want an open page, then be careful about what you post, don’t advertise the fact that you have been Christmas shopping and bought all your presents and then will be out with the family that night. You are basically just telling everyone that your house is empty and full of presents.
“Have a think about who could see what you are saying and make a few simple adjustments to ensure that you are safe and secure this Christmas.”
Further information about staying safe online is available on our website at www.cumbria.police.uk/onlinesafety
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