Burglars go online to pinpoint potential victims
Criminals and law enforcement officials are early adopters of new technologies and social media in particular in their battle to outwit each other.
With recent revelations about PRISM and the activities of GCHQ you would think that law enforcement would have most to gain from the latest digital developments.
Surely, some time soon we’ll be living in a version of Minority Report where cops intervene before the crime is committed?
However, that Utopia (Dystopia?) seems to be a few years away.
In the meantime, there are plenty of ways in which burglars in particular can develop their lean systems to target and gather intelligence on potential victims and minimise the risks of getting caught.
- Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare are particularly straightforward ways of finding out if someone is away on holiday or business.
- Google StreetView makes advance reconnaissance a piece of cake.
- GPS data automatically embedded in social media platforms and photos provides further opportunities
The infographic below summarises some of the main techniques in current use.
