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In Argentina, authorities recently arrested three Chilean men wanted in the U.S. in connection with a South American theft group accused of burglarizing the homes of professional athletes.
Federal prosecutors linked the group to break-ins involving Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis and other athletes. Two of the suspects were also arrested in connection with a burglary at the home of tennis legend Juan Martín del Potro in Argentina.
According to prosecutors, the group identified targets through publicly available schedules and location information, then struck while athletes were away or playing games. Separately, the FBI has warned that international theft groups surveil homeowners to learn their routines and advises travelers to avoid announcing vacations on social media.
Online criminals can research your address, family, travel plans and estimated property value without ever driving down your street. Here’s how criminals piece together those digital clues and what you can do to make your home harder to target
ALLEGED BURGLARY CREW THAT TARGETED PATRICK MAHOMES AND TRAVIS KELCE HOMES ARRESTED IN ARGENTINA: REPORT
Alleged members of a South American theft ring pose with stolen valuables. Federal investigators say the group targeted professional athletes while they were away competing in games. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida/Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
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How online criminals target empty homes
It may be tempting to assume these crimes only affect people with mansions, expensive cars and celebrity lifestyles. Those cases make the news, but professional athletes and entertainers are far from the only targets. Security researchers and law enforcement agencies have tracked burglary crews using the same methods against everyday homeowners.
One recent case involved a Los Angeles content creator whose Silver Lake home was burglarized while she was traveling. Thieves reportedly took tens of thousands of dollars in designer goods. She had shared that she was away, which gave anyone watching her public account a useful clue.
For retirees, the risk can grow as travel becomes more frequent. You may finally take the cruise you have planned for years, spend a month in Florida each winter or take a road trip to visit your grandchildren. Those trips also create more opportunities to post “we made it” from an airport, beach or campground while your home sits empty.
How family members can expose your travel plans
Maybe you wait until you return home before posting vacation photos. However, someone in your life may share the information for you. A spouse might tag the airport. An adult child could post a picture of the grandchildren in front of your house. A neighbor might mention that you are away on your annual trip.
You have limited control over what other people share, so talk with your family before traveling. Ask everyone to wait until you return before posting locations, travel photos or details about how long you will be gone. Watching what your family posts helps, but social media provides only part of the information criminals can collect.
How property records help criminals research your home
Investigators in Riverside, California, say they routinely find Zillow and Redfin searches on the phones of arrested burglary suspects. These sites may reveal an estimated property value, past sale prices and photos from an old listing. In some cases, criminals can view interior layouts, doors, windows and rooms before they approach the property.
Public property records can also reveal the owner’s name, mailing address and purchase history. Meanwhile, data broker and people-search sites may connect that address with phone numbers, relatives, previous homes and other personal details. Combine “this person is traveling” with “this home has significant value,” and criminals have the beginnings of a target list.
AI VOICE SCAMS CAN CLONE YOUR FAMILY’S VOICE
Burglars can use social media posts, public records and real estate listings to determine when a home may be empty. (PC Photography / Getty Images)
What strangers can find about your home online
Search your name, phone number and home address to see what appears. You may find people-search profiles that list your age, relatives, address history and possible phone numbers. Real estate websites may still display old interior photos, even when you purchased the home years ago. Someone could use those details to connect your social media account with a specific property.
Want to see what information data brokers may have about you? Run a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com. You should receive the results within an hour.
8 ways to protect your home before your next trip
These steps can reduce the amount of useful information available to someone researching your home. They work best alongside basic home security measures, such as an alarm system, a doorbell camera, light timers and secure storage for valuables.
1) Wait until you return to post vacation photos
Save airport, hotel and sightseeing photos until you are back home. Real-time posts can tell strangers where you are and confirm that your house may be empty.
2) Ask family members to avoid location tags
Tell your spouse, children, grandchildren and travel companions to wait before sharing your location or mentioning your travel dates.
3) Review your social media privacy settings
Limit posts to people you know. Remove followers you do not recognize and check whether old public posts reveal your routines, vehicles or home address.
4) Arrange for mail and package collection
Ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail, newspapers and deliveries. You can also place a temporary hold on your mail before an extended trip.
5) Put your lights on timers
Use timers or smart plugs to turn lights on and off at different times. Leaving every light off for two weeks can make an empty home easier to spot.
WHAT A SCAMMER SEES THE MOMENT THEY GOOGLE YOUR NAME
Surveillance footage shows a 2024 looting carried out by a Chilean crime ring at a Michigan home, shared with Fox 2 Detroit by a homeowner. (WJBK)
6) Review old real estate listing photos
Search your address on Zillow, Redfin and other real estate sites to see whether old listings reveal interior rooms, entrances or the layout of your home.
On Redfin, use a desktop browser and sign in. Select your name in the upper-right corner, choose My homes, select your claimed property and click Edit Photos. Check Hide listing photos, then select Yes, Hide Photos. This feature applies to off-market homes and currently does not appear in the Redfin mobile app.
On Zillow, sign in and select your profile icon, followed by Your Home. Choose your property and claim ownership if you have not already done so. From the Owner View, select Edit Facts. You can remove individual photos, delete all photos or check the option to hide photos from public view. Select Save Changes when finished.
Some off-market homes may not offer the editing option. In that case, submit a request to Zillow Customer Support. Other real estate sites may require you to claim the property, contact customer support or ask the original listing agent for help.
7) Reduce your data broker exposure
Data broker and people-search sites can connect your name, phone number, relatives and home address. Search for your information and request removal from sites that display it.
A data removal service can automate requests across hundreds of covered brokers and continue checking whether your information returns. It cannot erase government property records or every old real estate listing, so use it alongside the other home protection steps above.
You can also submit removal requests yourself, though the process may take more time and require repeat checks.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
8) Check your online exposure regularly
Search your name, address and phone number every few months. Look for new people-search profiles, outdated listings and social media posts that reveal more than you intended.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Burglary crews no longer need to spend days watching your street. Social media can reveal when you are away, while property records, real estate listings and people-search sites can reveal where you live and what your home may be worth. Retirement often brings more time for travel, which creates more opportunities for you or a family member to announce that your home is empty. You have limited control over public records and what your relatives post. However, you can delay travel posts, tighten privacy settings, remove old listing photos and reduce your exposure on data broker sites. Removing your personal information will never make you invisible. It can still make your home harder for online criminals to research and target.
Have you ever found personal details about your home online that surprised you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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