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Social Media Fuels Break-Ins at Historic Home
25 Oct
Summary
- Online videos inspired intruders to trespass and break into properties.
- Owner reports intruders entered home while he slept, causing damage.
- Expert links social media to rise in urban exploring for wrong reasons.
The owner of Leadenham House in Lincolnshire believes social media trends have led to a surge in break-ins at his properties. Following a video posted on October 7th, which garnered over 60,000 views, the owner's cottages became targets for trespassers. This trend escalated, with four intruders breaking into the main house on October 18th while the owner slept, causing damage to antique furniture and other property.
An expert in urban exploring, Dr. Kevin Bingham, suggests that social media is attracting individuals for the wrong reasons, shifting the focus from genuine historical interest to gaining online attention. This has reportedly led to a "free for all" mentality among some, moving beyond the traditional "leave only footprints" ethos. Lincolnshire Police have reported three incidents since October 11th, including suspicious activity and burglaries, though insufficient evidence has hindered the identification of those responsible.
