What Just Happened?

John is typical of many people who are unaware that there are criminals out there compiling virtual catalogs or databases of publicly available information, including people's locations and possessions. Location is a key element in crime because access is key. That access could be to you, your family, your home, or your possessions.

John had left clues that made it easy for me to find his school and home. Even the address of his date for the homecoming dance, whose picture he had posted, was not hard to find. I didn't have to know a thing about him to get this information in just minutes. He had shared information about his school, his family's possessions, his friends, and his habits, such as where he liked to hang out and activities that kept him late at school on certain days. By exposing his location, John was putting not only himself but also his friends and family at risk.