Facebook “Friend” Allegedly Robs Woman’s Home While She’s On Vacation

facebook_in_browserWith the spring and summer months fast approaching, taking a vacation is a top priority for many people. However, while you may be excited about your upcoming trip, it’s best not to post about it on Facebook, as one unlucky Californian woman found out this week.

Stacey Grant posted about her family’s upcoming vacation in Las Vegas, their first in two years, on her Facebook page. Unfortunately, one of her Facebook friends allegedly used that information to rob her home while she was away.

“It was hurtful,” Grant said. “My whole room was trashed, there were clothes everywhere. My bed was gone.”

Soon after the burglary, police in the area arrested three men who were loading Grant’s belongings into a U-Haul truck. One of the suspects, a Facebook friend of Grant’s, had even texted her on the first day of her trip to ask her how it was going.

With the increasing prevalence of social media posts and geo-tagging, criminals have similarly begun using the data to find prime robbery targets online. If you’re going on a trip, it’s best not to post too much about it, and do not reveal the exact dates that you’ll be gone. If your devices give an automatic geo-location for your posts, turn it off before you leave.

“It serves as a reminder to be very careful of what you post on social media sites,” said Martha Guzman-Hurtado, a police department spokesperson.



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