POLOKWANE – In recent community policing forum (CPF) meetings all over the city, the warning of residents about different markings used by criminals for housebreaking has been a hot topic.
Certain items being arranged in a specific manner outside your house could be a communication between thieves. According to Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Nthobeng Phala, criminals leave ‘messages’ for each other at gates and driveways.
Capt Phala say that residents should be aware of the different types of markings that criminals use to identify target houses.
These signs include the following:
• Z painted on a stop sign or on the road means that all the houses in the street are marked.
• Piles of small stones are an indication of dogs and two big stones together means there are old people living in the house.
• Red objects mean resistance, for example, two red tins means that the owner of the house is armed.
• White objects mean the house is an easy target.
• Green objects are used as direction markers.
• Blue objects mean the house is an easy target and there will be help from inside.
• Two big stones together – two old people.
• Stones placed in a row – indicates how many people in the house.
• Swastika painted on road – houses in street targeted for burglary. Direction of swastika indicates which house is the target.
Different colours can also have different meanings:
• Red (such as a soft drink can, red cloth, or crisp packet) – expect resistance.
• Red soft drink can with the opening towards the house – someone is home.
• Upright soft drink can – nobody home.
• White (sorghum carton, plastic bag) – easy target.
• White plastic bag in fence – easy target.
• White sorghum carton facing towards the house – target marked.
• Green – direction marker. The direction that the bottle is pointing indicates the direction they should proceed.
• Blue and/or blue and white (such as packets) – easy target and someone inside will help.
• Black – stock theft.
Phala added that residents leaving their lights on when they were away from home were easy targets. “Criminals target homes like these and leave some sort of marking to indicate that the house is not occupied. If any of these markings have been moved they know the owners are back home,” Phala said.
“We are following some leads that will culminate in arrests regarding several burglaries,” he said.
He further warned that doors and gates should not be opened for people claiming to have a delivery or needing to fix a telephone problem, without positively identifying themselves.
“In the past there have been cases where people claimed to be from an installation company or a courier company and asked domestic workers to open up for them.
“Residents should inform their domestic workers of any services or deliveries and have their domestic workers confirm with them first before opening a door or gate,” he added.
He also warned residents to be careful of anyone posing as a police official. “If you are not sure, contact the police station first,” he advised.
The police also made an urgent call on all residents to join the CPF in their areas and become the eyes and ears of their neighbours and police in a bid to stop crime in the city.
Know how to spot a marker by burglars
