According to a security expert, there are eight markings you need to be watchful of, which burglars use to mark a targeted property.
Hackney in London, Middlesbrough, and Leeds have been identified as the most dangerous areas for burglary by CrimeRate. However, burglars use key markings to identify potential targets regardless of location.
A security expert has highlighted eight specific markings that households should be vigilant about, as these are often used by burglars to mark properties they intend to target.
These chalk markings can be found on walls, bricks, window ledges, wheelie bins, fences, and pavements near your home.
A security expert from CJS Automation warned: “Burglars are always looking for easy targets. If they see weak locks, no security cameras, or signs that a home is unoccupied, they will move in.”
If you notice any suspicious markings on or near your property, it’s crucial to photograph them before removing them to show others, including the police.
The security expert also cautioned that criminals typically don’t target just one house – they scout entire streets. Therefore, it’s advisable to inform your neighbours if you discover any such markings.
Reporting the markings to your local police department is also recommended. They may then monitor burglar activity in the area more closely and increase patrols.
The expert further advised: “The best defence is to remove suspicious markings, improve your home security, and stay aware of what’s happening in your neighbourhood.”
The police have also weighed in on the matter, stating that “burglars are often opportunistic thieves” who are drawn to doors or windows left open. “Anything of value that they might spot through a window will only spur them on,” the police added.
At times, burglaries are committed not just to ransack the home but to snag a car parked outside by hunting for the keys within.
The police point out that sheds and garages are often easy marks due to poor security where they may find a trove of tools to break into your dwelling: “Sheds and garages are often vulnerable as they are not that secure and contain tools which the burglar can use to assist them to gain entry to a home.”
Additionally, falling prey to burglary once could turn your home into an even bigger magnet for thieves thereafter.
The police stated: “It’s a fact that burglars return to homes that they’ve previously burgled because the homeowner failed to upgrade security following the first burglary”.
Moreover, if there’s been recent burglary activity in the neighborhood, your residence might just be next on the hit list.
Spotlighting the importance of sturdy defences around your abode becomes paramount to keep those with sticky fingers at bay.
