Thieves target Facebook and twitter users

Thieves target Facebook, Twitter users

Insurers are urging their clients not to leak out their holiday details on Facebook and Twitter, for burglars use such sites to target homes.

The irresponsible behaviour of Internet users on social networking websites makes them prone to burglaries, according to insurers.

"Under the terms of most insurance policies, people have a duty to make their home secure," the Daily Star quoted an industry source as saying.

"If they have told the world they are out and not coming back for a while, they might as well put a sign outside saying: 'Burgle Me.' You can't blame the insurance industry for refusing to pay the bill for such irresponsibility," added the source.

Malcolm Cooper of Legal & General said: "Information on social networking sites coupled with increasingly sophisticated location-based tools such as Google Street View can potentially be used by burglars to build a list of targets."

Insurance firm Hiscox, which will not insure celebrities who allow details of their holidays to be published in magazines, said it would penalise customers who state their where-abouts on public sites.

The AA said putting details of when you are away on the Internet could be taken as "a breach of your duty of care and would be seriously considered by an insurer".

Darren Black, head of home insurance at confused.com said the cost of insuring a home could be high for people who regularly use these sites.

"Criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using Google Earth and Street View to plan their burglaries with military precision. Insurance providers are starting to take this into account when they are assessing claims," he said.

Privacy campaigners were outraged at a Dutch site launched last month, which gives updates on people who have just left their house.

Pleaserobme.com said it was highlighting the dangers of websites not helping burglars.

Agencies