Your house may be marked for a robbery

Greymont resident Tina Erasmus has always been vigilant about her safety since house break-ins and robberies are unfortunately a part of the Johannesburg landscape.

So, when she left home an hour later than usual on the morning of 14 February and found strange markings on the pavement outside her premises, alarm bells went off in her head.

“Due to being very security alert I noticed something when I left for work this morning [14 February]. I usually leave at 4am or 5am but I decided to go in at 6am instead. I found markings in front of my house placed neatly on the curb,” she said.

By being alert, Erasmus might have thwarted a planned attack on her house.

According to Louis Grobler of Security in Practise, what might seem like harmless rubbish laying around could actually be used by criminals as a non-verbal form of communication.

“We are the inheritors of a new sign language based on the same principles of fanagalo – the combined language spoken in South African mines by workers of different language backgrounds who needed a structured way to communicate,” he explained.

Grobler calls the phenomenon ‘eishgalo’ and has been observing and collecting information on it for over 20 years.

“If you find certain repeated items lying idly in the same vicinity, follow your nose. You might just spot a pattern and save somebody some grief,” he advised.

“Also start looking around you along the pavements for everyday litter: plastic bags, empty milk and magau cartons or an innocent empty Coke bottle could be leading criminals to their victim’s home. Depending on the area where you live different objects will be used, observe the use of the same item repeatedly.”

According to Grobler, there is no scientific basis behind ‘eishgalo’ but a lot of information has been collected from individual members of the police, operational personnel of security companies, security consultants, block watchers and private individuals.

“Please warn your readers to check in front of their houses,” he added.

Details: Louis Grobler, 074 102 4905 or 011 079 6969.