Couple posting vacation photos on Facebook return to find home ransacked

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Clues that a family's gone on vacation used to mean newspapers in the driveway, overcrowded mailboxes and no one answering the phone.

That’s changing these days.

"We've kind of become savvy to that, we've stopped the mail, we've stopped the newspapers, upkeeping the yards and now we're focusing on social networking sites," said Port. St. Lucie Public Information Officer Tom Nichols.

Port St. Lucie police say extra hints that a family wasn't home didn't help in a recent home robbery.

The family left their Greenan Lane home in Port St. Lucie for New York state last week.

When they returned, thousands of dollars worth of TVs, jewelry, and cameras were gone.

Police say the homeowners posted updates to their Facebook account, showing they were out of town.

"Although Facebook's intent is to have good means behind it, there are drawbacks and the drawbacks are posting things on there that are sacred and things that should be left unsaid," said Nichols.

Police say three big things you shouldn't post on Facebook are you're home address, plans for a long trip away from home and even plans for a short trip.

Police haven't pinpointed the fact that the Facebook postings directly led to the burglary.

They recommend being extra cautious with social network posting with the upcoming holiday. 

Police collected fingerprints from the home and interviewed neighbors. Anyone with information is asked to call Port St. Lucie Police at 772-344-4098.