Out of town? Think before you post on social media, warns Muktsar police after wedding day burglary

A wedding celebration turned into a distressing ordeal for a family in Muktsar’s Narang Colony, after their home was looted while they were away attending the ceremony.

Following the incident, Muktsar police issued an advisory urging residents to tighten home security and be discreet with their travel plans online.

The theft occurred at the residence of Harinder Kumar, who had left with his entire family on Sunday for his daughter’s wedding. Upon returning the next morning, they were shocked to find their house ransacked—cupboards were broken open, belongings scattered, and cash and gold ornaments worth lakhs missing.

A case was registered at the Muktsar City police station, and within days, two men and a woman were arrested. During police remand, Rs 5.06 lakh in cash was recovered from the accused.

The investigation revealed that the criminals had easily identified the vacant house, with officials pointing to oversharing on social media as a key vulnerability.

“People unintentionally make their homes targets,” said an investigating officer. “A WhatsApp status like ‘Gone to a wedding’ or a Facebook post tagged in another city is more than enough for someone planning a break-in. Our message is loud and clear: celebrate freely, but post wisely.”

“It is always good to assign a trusted person to keep an eye on your home while you’re away, and to deposit cash or valuables in the bank. What seems like a harmless post to friends could become an open invitation to thieves,” the advisory said.

Punjab