When you cross reference the sex offender registry with your neighborhood, keeping predators away from the family is probably your first instinct. However, keeping them away from your wireless internet may never cross your mind.
BSO deputies took Local 10's Sasha Andrade on a ride-along to showcase how many South Floridians are vulnerable.
Deputies say if your WiFi is not secure, criminals can easily use your signal to download child pornography. That means the crime is traced back to you.
"I do the investigation. It's all coming back to your house but your neighbor is accessing your wireless," said Detective Joe Vella. "I'm going to be coming to your house with the search warrant and I have the right to seize every piece of media in the house."
It happened in Wilton Mannors when a man downloaded child pornography using a neighbor's wireless internet.
Deputies say it was one of the worst cases they'd ever seen, with countless images of infants being molested.
Vincent Fernald lived across the hall from the sex offender at the time.
"You see people in the hallway, you say 'hello,' but you don't know what they're doing behind closed doors," Fernald said.
He said he was glad his internet connection was secure when the sex offender was discovered.
"I pay for it, so I don't think anybody else should be on my internet," he said.