A Melbourne home invasion saw more than $250,000 worth of rare and vintage handbags stolen, with over 50 designer bags taken while the owner was out. Five habits reduce the risk: post less on social media, secure your home, watch strangers closely, travel defensively and keep your belongings within reach.
What happened in Melbourne
On August 3 at 10pm, a homeowner returned to find every room torn apart and items missing. Over 50 designer handbags, many of them Chanel, and luxury jewellery worth more than $250,000 in total had been taken, sometime between noon and 10pm that day. The scale suggested more than one person and a getaway car. The suburb had also been hit on June 15, when designer handbags worth about $50,000 were taken, though police said the incidents were not related. The stolen handbags were later found in another woman's home and all of the goods were recovered, but the lesson about exposure stands: robberies like these are reported in stores, homes and businesses around the world every day.
Social media is not your friend
Do not post your location while you are there. If you are out with friends and showing off your bags, that can make you a target for in-person theft, and if you have posted your home or apartment in stories before, robbers can guess your address and know you are away. The basic rules: do not post your home, because windows reveal the street you live on; do not post in real time; do not show off your full collection or where it is kept; and never post your vacation in real time, because an unattended home gives people time to plan.
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Secure your home and valuables
Security is key. Video doorbells and cameras like Ring help, lock up your valuables, and hide them rather than leaving them wide open. Avoid showing off your security system, because that makes it easier to plan around: technology is great until it is cut off or hacked, so do not rely on it alone. The same caution applies to strangers. Avoid letting people you do not know into your home, and if someone is inside, keep track of which rooms they enter and whether they are taking photos or acting suspiciously.
Stay safe on vacation and in public
On vacation, use the hotel safe, since everything in that box can be insured, and use luggage locks when you are out of the room. Do not geo-tag your location, and if you suspect someone is following you, do not return to your room. Go to a public place like a lobby, restaurant or crowded area instead. In public, keep your belongings close and never leave them unattended, because it is no one's responsibility to watch your items but yours. Earlier this year in Toronto, a bag was stolen from the lobby of a medispa after it was left sitting alone. These tips cannot guarantee anything, but they throw potential criminals off your radar.
Frequently asked questions
How do thieves choose homes to target?
Often through social media. Photos and stories reveal what you own, where you live and when you are away, which is enough to plan a break-in.
Should you show off your security cameras?
No. Avoid advertising your security setup. Systems can be cut off or hacked, so keep valuables hidden and cameras discreet instead.
What should you do if you think someone is following you?
Do not go to your room or home. Head to a public place, such as a lobby, restaurant or crowded area, and stay there until you feel safe.
Read more about protecting high-value belongings in the risks of selling on your own, and browse new arrivals with the same caution in mind.
