People in Ipswich are becoming increasingly social media savvy but remain guilty of ‘oversharing’ online, according to new research into the dangers of posting too much information online.

Earlier this year, residents were identified among the country’s worst offenders for giving away clues to criminals by posting photos of new cars.

Updated research now shows a declining tendency to reveal too much – but that the town remains on the list of ‘riskiest’ places for sharing images of new cars parked on driveways.

Instagram users were 74% more likely to use the hashtag ‘newcar’ in Ipswich, according to a study of social media activity against crime and population figures between June 2017 and May 2018.

But disparity with the national average narrowed by one tenth since the beginning of the year, when Ipswich came third of all towns and cities for posting photos or references to new cars.

Swinton Insurance also scoured the web for ‘risky’ social media boasts about being on holiday or away from home – producing a vulnerability score – with five being the baseline UK average.

New data found those in the East of England now 40% more likely than average to share private information – with people in Ipswich also 4% more likely to post about being on holiday.

Crime data also showed half of burglars are known to the victim – indicating thieves could be monitoring accounts.

Swinton Insurance has launched a Safer Summer campaign with home security specialists Yale and TV’s Beat the Burglar presenter Dominic Littlewood.

Wayne Kennedy, head of Yale retail consumer division, said: “Millions of homes are left empty during the summer months, and with homeowners more share-happy on social media than ever, we’re effectively advertising our homes to burglars.

“Statistics show us that criminals do scan social media posts to help plan their break-ins.

“There’s a lot you can do to keep your home secure. We’re urging Britons to take these measures into consideration, and to be extra careful when sharing holiday snaps on Facebook and Instagram if their profile isn’t private.”

While London users moved the closest to safer online behaviour, with 6% fewer risky posts, users in Norwich changed behaviour more than any – increasing risky posts 102% year-on-year.

View Swinton’s social media crime map here.