http://uk.news.yahoo.com/burglars-using-social-media-targets-090237147.html

The majority of burglars are using social media websites to help target victims and plan their crimes, a survey suggests.

Three quarters of convicted burglars questioned said sites including Google Street View now play a big part in their planning.

A similar amount said Twitter and Facebook - where users 'check in' to locations - are also being used by criminals.

Security expert Jonathan Lim told Sky News: "Burglars are analysing what's going on.

"They can see people's status updates, with people on Twitter saying 'I'm away on holiday having a great time'. If they know where you live it's like an open invitation."

Former burglar Richard Taylor said: "We're living in the age of the digital criminal and people are taking advantage of social media to access information about would-be victims.

"We'll tell them even when we're going away on holidays. We will let them know that we're not in. We're inviting them... round to our house."

Convicted burglars were asked the most likely things to lead them to target a property for Friedland Security's UK Home Security Report.

As well as outlining their use of new technology, a fifth of burglars said they monitored homeowners' daily routine before striking.

The survey of 50 convicted burglars also found the average home burglary only takes 10 minutes to commit.

A home with no visible security could be broken into in just two minutes, they revealed.

Average burglaries net criminals nearly �500, with most aiming for jewellery, cash and electrical goods although others targeted documents like passports.

Only a quarter of those polled said guard dogs were a deterrent and less than one in 10 were put off by nosy neighbours.

But more than half - 60% - said they would be discouraged from targeting a home if they knew it had a security alarm.

what about homes with professional cctv systems what percentage would give a home/property a miss with cctv installed.

erm, I'm guessing it depends on who installed it...

what about homes with professional cctv systems what percentage would give a home/property a miss with cctv installed.

They break in and nick the recorder along with all the other goodies

doubt theyd get ours then seens as my dm is cut into the loft wall and attached from the rear and sides onto a purpose built shlf suported in the oft side, the only way of getting that machine out is by taking the wall down

well, if you did it with the same gobbo mix as the pond....

well, if you did it with the same gobbo mix as the pond....

lol, but a bit uncalled for?

doubt theyd get ours then

why not ? you've just revealed the location of a security device on social media website...

well seens as its on show when you walk in the room where its installed its a bit obvous

well, if you did it with the same gobbo mix as the pond....

lol

doubt theyd get ours then

If they're detirmined enough they will, or just remove the hdd . Just to be on the safe side you should record remotely as well as locally