Paul Jones, a detective from ARF Investigations, says that burglars don’t act on impulse, instead, they watch and plan for the perfect opportunity.
Burglar breaking into House(Image: Ja via Getty Images)
If you stumble across an unusual object in your garden, you might be inclined to dismiss it – but a private investigator has revealed why that could be a mistake.
Many of us don’t bother checking items in our front gardens or even notice when something out of place appears by our front door, but according to one specialist, criminals are using seemingly harmless objects to identify potential victims.
Paul Jones, a detective from ARF Investigations, explains that burglars don’t act spontaneously, instead, they observe and prepare for the ideal moment.
With Christmas approaching, ensure these indicators aren’t present around your property, reports RSVP Live.
Chalk marks
Chalk is inexpensive, it wipes away and can be applied to bins, walls or gateposts. Whilst every criminal will employ different symbols, and they can frequently resemble random children’s scribbles, they often carry a sinister significance.
“Don’t think of a triangle meaning this or an x meaning that because it doesn’t work that way. Burglars will have their own symbols to show if a house has been previously burgled, if it’s a good target, if the occupant is vulnerable, if it has an alarm or if the home is too risky,” Paul says.
“Some will even use symbols to show if a property isn’t worth burglarising.”
Innocent garden item
Criminals can employ stickers, string and even Sellotape across your keyhole, which they will examine a few days afterwards to determine if someone has been entering and exiting the home and inserting a key in the door. One peculiar item that may turn up is a single wellington boot.
“In a few cases, we have seen some random items appear outside a home a few days before being burgled. One item we have seen a few times is a wellie. It’s strange, and we haven’t quite worked out what it means.
“We suspect that the criminals are leaving items like this to see if they have been removed, but if they are still there after a few days, then the occupant probably isn’t at home and is on holiday somewhere.”
Gardener with welly boots
How to safeguard your property
Homeowners should inspect their premises for any suspicious markings or unexpected objects. Remove any unusual marks and dispose of random items, then monitor to see if they return.
Should the marks or objects reappear and seem out of the ordinary, then you ought to consider installing security systems such as CCTV, video doorbells or alarm systems, Paul advises.
“You should always trust your instincts, as it’s better to be safe than sorry. Maybe you noticed someone hanging around your home, or your dog started barking at an unusual time. Don’t dismiss those feelings. Take them seriously and call the police,” he says.
“If there is a pattern of suspicious activity in your area, your report could help police build a picture and prevent crimes before they happen. If you don’t report this, then you will never know if you could have stopped someone else’s family home from being targeted.”
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