PSNI warns Facebook users to be more cautious of holiday posts over Easter

by Gráinne Connolly

Police in Craigavon have taken to facebook to raise awareness of sharing personal details on social media pages, especially coming up to Easter. 

One thing that many people do before they go on holiday now, is "check in" on facebook. 

This clearly shows that someone is heading out of the country and possibly leaving their house attended for a while. 

A PSNI spokesperson said that some members of the public can often share too much on their "ridiculously" open profiles: 

"Around this time last year I was enjoying my obligatory pre flight pint when I decided to have a nosey at who had "checked in" to the bar. 

"A girl just hours before had done so, saying where she was going and how long for.

"From her ridiculously open profile I was able to see her new car outside her house.

"A few months prior to that on her timeline I was able to see her "I'm a home owner now, look at me adulting, lol" seflie with keys and house number on show. In the "omg, well jel" comments from her mates, she proceded to tell them what new development she'd moved to.

"All that stuff is fine if you know and trust everyone on your friends list AND have locked down security settings.

"This girl though...not so much. Any burglar with half a brain cell could do a trawl of the airport bars and restaurants Facebook pages and get a hit list of security lax targets." 

The same spokesperson is encouraging people heading on holidays or leaving their home unattended this Easter to be smart and take extra precautionary steps:

"If you're going away this Easter, make sure the only thing you get from a 'check in' is a boarding pass, not a crime reference number.

"Before you post ANYTHING, review your security settings, particularly what strangers can see."