Tech-savvy thieves exploit obits, online posts to strike homes while families grieve, expert warns

Thieves targeting the homes of radical whose loved ones precocious died is not a caller tactic, but a instrumentality enforcement adept warns it whitethorn beryllium resurfacing arsenic criminals progressively exploit publically disposable accusation to foretell erstwhile homes volition beryllium vacant.

In California’s South Bay, families accidental their loved ones’ homes were burglarized soon aft obituaries were published, raising concerns that criminals whitethorn beryllium scanning obituaries and ceremonial announcements to place susceptible properties portion families are grieving.

Retired Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Jeff Wenninger told Fox News Digital that portion these cases consciousness particularly cruel, the information down them is typically not personal.

"Using obituaries is conscionable 1 method of casing a location," Wenninger said. "Really, we person to beryllium pragmatic astir predictability and vulnerability. Predictability is the fishy being capable to foretell erstwhile you volition not beryllium home."

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A pistillate grieves astatine a sedate site.  (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Wenninger explained that criminals seldom trust connected a azygous detail. Instead, they portion unneurotic aggregate indicators, including obituaries, memorial announcements and regular disruptions, to find erstwhile a home, oregon adjacent respective homes connected to 1 family, whitethorn beryllium unoccupied.

"When you’re talking astir utilizing obituaries, that’s conscionable different means successful which the suspects are capable to find retired and foretell your movements and enactment successful bid to exploit and victimize you by burglarizing your residence," helium said.

Wenninger said akin targeting tactics person been seen successful a bid of high-profile burglaries involving nonrecreational athletes, wherever criminals exploit predictable schedules and absences.

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The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were reportedly burglarized successful 2024. (IMAGN)

"When you look astatine nonrecreational athletes, each idiosyncratic has to bash is look astatine a crippled docket to cognize erstwhile they’re not going to beryllium home," Wenninger said. "That aforesaid predictability applies to funerals, question oregon immoderate large disruption successful routine."

He noted that galore of those cases impact organized burglary groups that program ahead, determination rapidly and people circumstantial valuables.

"These groups are precise circumstantial astir what they want," Wenninger said. "They’re not going successful to ransack a place. They privation jewelry, watches, cash, and they privation to get successful and retired fast."

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Ring video shows burglars prowling successful a victim's backyard astatine nighttime with flashlights. (Orange County District Attorney's Office)

In Saratoga, California, a household told KNTV NBC Bay Area that their mother-in-law’s location was burglarized successful precocious November, conscionable 2 days aft her obituary appeared successful a section newspaper. Security camera video obtained by the outlet shows astatine slightest 2 suspects entering the location and aboriginal leaving hours afterward, with 1 idiosyncratic seen carrying a safe.

Relatives told KNTV that the burglars utilized an ax to interruption done a rear sliding solid doorway and stole sterling silverware and a safe, which was empty.

"We’re already grappling with the nonaccomplishment of our mother-in-law, and this conscionable adds insult to injury," comparative John Tuttle told KNTV, calling the transgression "below quality dignity."

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The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told Fox News Digital that the unfortunate of the Saratoga robbery had precocious passed away, and an obituary was published successful a section newspaper. The burglary occurred soon afterward, and respective items were taken from the home.

 Officials said that the probe is progressive and remains ongoing, and nary arrests person been made.

"We promote residents to instrumentality precautions erstwhile distant from home, specified arsenic securing doors and windows, notifying trusted neighbors, and avoiding publically sharing question oregon ceremonial details until aft the event," the sheriff's bureau advised. 

KNTV besides reported connected a akin incidental successful adjacent Los Gatos, wherever different household said their father’s location was breached into 1 time aft an obituary was published. According to the outlet, thieves stole guns, sterling silverware and irreplaceable household heirlooms.

"Who takes vantage of idiosyncratic astatine the saddest and weakest moments of their life?" the household subordinate told KNTV.

Wenninger said obituaries tin beryllium peculiarly utile to criminals due to the fact that they often see work details and household names, which tin exposure aggregate residences astatine once.

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"The obituary volition archer you things astir erstwhile the services are, and unfortunately, it oftentimes volition springiness names of different household members," Wenninger said. "People tin probe that done identifiable accusation wherever different radical successful the household live, knowing that they’re apt to beryllium astatine those services."

He added that these crimes often impact readying alternatively than spur-of-the-moment decisions.

"When idiosyncratic is utilizing the obituary, that does impact planning," Wenninger said. "They privation to get successful and retired precise quickly, and they’re precise circumstantial connected what they want."

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An undated photograph illustration shows a ceremonial work and a burglary silhouette to exemplify however criminals whitethorn people homes during memorial services, according to a instrumentality enforcement expert.  (Getty Images/iStock)

According to Wenninger, modern exertion has shifted the equilibrium successful favour of criminals.

"Technology is simply a crippled changer, but it’s being unluckily utilized much optimally by the atrocious histrion than it is the idiosyncratic trying to support themselves," helium said.

Wenninger said families tin trim hazard by making homes look occupied during funerals, question oregon periods of loss, including having radical travel and go, keeping lights connected and avoiding evident signs of absence.

He besides cautioned against sharing real-time accusation publicly.

"People similar to station things successful existent time, and truly you’re perchance putting yourself successful harm’s mode due to the fact that you’re making yourself predictable," helium said. "Less is more. Post it aft you get home."

Security adept Michael Leininger antecedently told KNTV that families should bounds the magnitude of idiosyncratic accusation included successful obituaries, including work logistics and household names that could exposure further homes portion relatives are away.

Despite the disturbing quality of the crimes, Wenninger stressed that awareness, not fear, is the goal.

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"This isn’t astir overreacting oregon allowing the menace of being burglarized to dictate what you bash socially," helium said. "It’s astir being alert of what is being done to place imaginable victims and taking the steps indispensable to decision those measures."

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].