Paul Gorton, known for his appearance on the BBC series Traitors, discovered his Cheshire home had been burgled upon returning from a family holiday. The incident took place on 28 August, days after he shared photographs on social media while away.
Gorton noted that his house was broken into approximately 20 minutes after he posted an update online about being by the pool. Sentimental items, including a ring from his wife's grandmother, and his bike were stolen. The perpetrators gained entry by using a lock snapping technique on bi-fold doors and cut the broadband connection.
Cheshire Police described the incident as a "one-off hit," leading Gorton to believe it was a targeted attack, possibly by someone who follows him online. He is now encouraging people to be more careful about posting holiday updates and to wait until they are home.
Gorton has collaborated with Compare the Market, which commissioned a private investigator to examine digital footprints. This investigation reportedly identified seven home addresses of volunteers using publicly available information, with one address found in 15 minutes.