Typically they are used to forewarn one another of what to expect after your home has been broken into: they indicate the number of occupants, their age, the presence of dogs, an alarm, and if there is help on the inside.
The markers may not be easily identifiable as each gang or syndicate may use different methods or items. They range from different colour plastic bags to cold drink cans, bricks and stones, and the direction of their placement is just as significant.
"The trend was first noticed in 2010 when many homes, which fell victim to burglary or robbery, either had an empty Coke can lying on the verge or a pile of stones in front of the home, among other markers," says Stallion Security's reaction division director, Dave Sleep.
"The problem, though, is that residents don't take note of the objects in front of their homes. The public, in general, is not aware of their surroundings and is extremely unobservant."
And no, these are not just scare tactics to sell security services, say Stallion Security and ADT. What is important is for residents to be observant and remain vigilant at all times, they caution. The best form of deterrence is to remove the rubbish outside your home and paint over defaced signs. The latter is just one of their tactics itemised in the table below, compiled by Stallion Security.
Not only should vigilance pertain to objects lying in front of your home, both companies say, but also to strangers and strange vehicles in your street when you arrive home. This is a message that both Stallion and ADT reiterate to their clients on a continual basis.
Markers and meanings
- "Z" painted on stop sign or on the road - Homes in the street targeted for burglary
- Piles of little stones - Warn of dogs
- Two big stones placed together - Two elderly people
- Stones placed in a row - Indicate number of residents in the home
- Swastika painted on road (direction of the swastika indicates which home has been targeted for burglary)
- Simba (or Lays) crisp packets: normally neatly folded, but sometimes weighed down by something inside the packet crisp packet facing the home - Owner at home
- Crisp packet facing the road - No one home
- Shoes and shoe soles near or at the gate - No one home and direction of the shoes indicates the escape route
- "Wrong number" calls to your home phone - Checking if you are home
- Electricity off at the mains box - When you go outside to check, your home is open and the people inside are soft targets. This also applies to businesses as criminals wait for the alarm battery to die before breaking in. (Call your security company when you are notified that the power is down.)
- Strange items in front of your home: Cardboard boxes, bricks, a neighbour's tree branch - This is a distraction to get you to either exit your vehicle to remove the object or to leave your home to remove the objects. (Call the police or your security company to assist you.)
- Bricks normally indicate a car to be stolen.
- Two or three bricks (usually new bricks) - Residential robbery planned.
RED
• Coke tins, red cloth, red crisp packets - Can expect resistance.
• Two Coke tins - Owner is armed.
• Coke tin opening towards the home - Someone is home.
• Upright Coke tin - Nobody is home.
WHITE
• Sorghum cartons, plastic bags - Easy target.
• Sorghum carton facing towards home - Target marked.
• White plastic bag in fence - Easy target.
GREEN
• Plastic bottles, beer bottles - Direction marker. The direction in which the bottle is pointing indicates the direction they should proceed.
BLUE AND/OR BLUE AND WHITE
• For example, Clicks plastic packets - Easy target and someone inside will help.
BLACK
• Plastic bags or cloth - Stock theft, usually in warehouses.
Your best friend is your best body guard
Poisoning - If a dog dies suddenly or vomits, check for black specks in the vomit or white powder near the dog.
Report all dog poisonings to the police, who must give you a case number.
Barking - if your dog is barking, do not ignore it.
Kiewiets (and geese) - These birds are excellent "watch dogs". They sound the alarm when a human encroaches on their territory and their various calls mean different things.
Tips:
Theunis Kotze, ADT general manager, Inland Region, provides residents with further hints and tips:
• Criminals are less likely to target homes or complexes which have prominent and well defined access control procedures.
• Attend community safety meetings so you are aware of the latest criminal tactics in your area.
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