How to deal with lost holiday luggage and what to do to stay protected

Holidaymakers are being warned about social media posts after a rise in the number of burglaries whilst people are away.

Airlines are currently seeing record passenger numbers* as Brits look to go abroad, and the staycation market is also booming, leaving homes empty for long periods of time.

There are more than 170 million #holiday tags on Instagram as well as millions of further travel related posts, with people sharing images of passports, boarding passes, out of offices and their destination.

To prevent burglaries whilst families go for well-deserved Summer breaks, security retailer Safe.co.uk has revealed what to avoid posting and explained why it’s important:

Out Of Office – Whilst it’s best to avoid sharing images at any stage of a holiday online, posting a picture of your out of office gives burglars a rough idea of how long you’re away for as the dates are visible. They can then take time to plan any break-in meticulously for the duration of the holiday and can even lead to multiple intrusions of a home.

Holiday Countdowns – One of the most popular posts in the weeks and months leading up to a holiday is a countdown app, but this should only be used for personal use. It’s fine to shout about booking a holiday that you’ve dreamed of, but advertising how long away it is provides burglars with the ultimate chance to plan a robbery. They may monitor the local area to work out the perfect time to execute their break-in whilst the homeowner is none the wiser.

Geo-Tagging on stories and Check Ins: Posting live updates on social media whilst on holiday allows burglars with the perfect chance to strike. Resist the urge to post check ins and wait until you have returned before sharing highlights with Facebook and Instagram. Send your closest friends and family private messages with images of your holiday instead. It’s imperative to avoid geo-tagging on stories too, as this allows thieves to calculate how long they have before you are home, even if posting in the airport on the way home there is still time for them.

Imitation accounts – By putting images of your trip online whilst away, this makes it easier for people to impersonate your accounts. There have been a lot of scams of stolen accounts and new phone numbers, and by providing thieves with easy access to live holiday details and photos this makes it more likely that friends, family and colleagues will fall for this, which could involve putting your property in danger.

Anthony Neary, managing director of Safe.co.uk commented: “When booking a holiday it is tempting to constantly post about it as the excitement begins but people need to be smart with social media as thieves lurk everywhere. Once away, avoid any posts that may alert burglars to a vacant home, and ensure that family members or neighbours are keeping an eye on the property. Keep updates and snaps of your latest excursion or meal to private messages with loved ones as the last thing anyone wants is to return home to find intruders have been through personal belongings and taken sentimental items.”