Burglars on the prowl on social networking sites

In a major breakthrough, the police have ascertained the new modus operandi adopted by internet-savvy burglars who use social networking websites to learn about the family details and locations of their potential victims. Leena Dhankhar reports.

The alarming rise in burglary cases is keeping the Gurgaon police on its toes. In a major breakthrough, the police have ascertained the new modus operandi adopted by internet-savvy burglars who use social networking websites to learn about the family details and locations of their potential victims.

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The cyber crime wing of Gurgaon police is currently working on three theft cases reported from upscale localities in DLF City and off the Sohna Road.

In all the cases, the burglars were friends with the victims on Facebook. By chatting with the victims, the miscreants would extract personal information from them.

As against 245 burglary cases reported between January 1 and October 15 last year in the city, 376 cases have been reported during the corresponding period this year. "We've received three complaints from different parts of the city," said Suresh Kumar, inspector, cyber crime cell, Gurgaon.

One of the victims', a resident of DLF City Phase 2, had updated her Facebook status, "Going on family trip for five days to Bangkok." When she returned, she found her house ransacked. In another incident, a Sohna Road resident updated her Facebook status, "My husband leaving for Paris and I'm going to my parents place for three days." Burglars struck at her house too.

Several theft cases have also been reported from Sushant Lok and Sector 56 where unidentified people ransacked flats and fled with cash, jewellery and electronic goods though security guards was deployed at the locality gates.

Meanwhile, residents said absence of police personnel had compounded their woes.

"There is no police patrolling in our area at night. It's difficult to leave the house these days," said Shveta Bhalla, resident of DLF City Phase 1.

DCP (east) Maheshwar Dayal told HT, "We've increased patrolling and have deployed PCR vans at vulnerable spots in the city. We are investigating all the cases. The accused will be nabbed soon."