CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Millions of Texans will travel to their holiday destinations, and while doing so, some will document their trips on social media.
However, security experts advise residents against broadcasting their absence from home.
Tarleton State University Associate Dean and Professor, College of Liberal and Fine Arts
School of Criminology Alex Del Carmen said it is surprisingly easy for potential thieves to realize that a home is empty.
"When I go out of town with my wife, I typically even pack my bags at night and load up my vehicle at night so that nobody sees us loading up the luggage in the middle of the day," he said.
Carmen said that sometimes, all someone has to do is scroll through social media posts. From selfies on an airplane to family photos taken miles from home, while you are making memories, criminals are taking notes.
"I keep on telling people the same thing every year, which is to post them afterwards. When you come back, you can brag all day long, but just make sure you say, 'we had a great time at," he said.
Another clear signal to burglars is the sight of perfectly packaged boxes resting on residents' front porches. Senior Corpus Christi Police Officer Antonio Contreras said that thieves wait for the right opportunity.
"They see that if nobody's looking, they're going to take that chance and swipe that item from the porch," he said.
Contreras said having your packages delivered someplace other than your empty house can boost security. Additionally, installing a visible security camera can sometimes be a deterrent.
"Maybe you can get a family member to stop by and pick it up if you're not going to be home, or a trusted neighbor," he said.
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