Unverified police advice doing the rounds

A HelderKloof Neighbourhood Watch member posted the photo in crime prevention groups on the social media site this morning. On the page pictured in it are listed signs that the police warn residents to look out for.

These signs have to do with houses being marked or targeted for burglary. Intruders will visit the street ahead of time and leave markers to inform their accomplices. The information suggests that the police advise home-owners to remove and dispose of all markers that they notice on their sidewalks immediately.

The photographed page has no official SAPS markings on it. However, similar information pamphlets have been handed out by police members at block watch and community policing forums events.

A list of the sidewalk markers appear below:

• A pile of little stones suggests to intruders that there are dogs in the yard or house

• Two big stones placed together indicate that two elderly persons reside in the house

• A swastika on the road and the direction in which it is drawn indicated a house targeted for burglary.

• Two Coca-Cola tins indicates that the owner of the house is armed.

• Coca-Cola tins with its opening towards the house indicates that somebody is at home.

• An upright Coca-Cola tin indicates that nobody is at home.

• A white sorghum carton and plastic bag indicates that the residents are easy targets.

• A sorghum carton facing thae house marks it for burglary.

• A white plastic bag on the fense indicates an easy target.

• The colour green is used a s a direction marker and indicates the direction in which criminals should proceed.

• Blue or blue and white plastic bags indicates that the house is an easy target and that somebody inside will assist with the burglary.

• A person dialling your house or cell phone number that indicates that they’ve dialled the wrong number could mean that criminals are checking to see if you are home.

• If your electricity is switched off at the main box, this might be a criminal’s way of luring you to the sidewalk (he is hoping that you leave everything unlocked).

• Strange items in the driveway (a cardboard box, brick or tree branch) is also a way of luring residents out of their houses or vehicles.

• A brick normally indicates that there is a vehicle to be stolen.

A separate list of crisp packet markers was given:

• Crisp packets are normally neatly folded but can also be weighed down by something inside the packet.

• The packet facing the house indicats that the owner is at home.

• The packet facing the road indicates that nobody is home.

• Shoes and shoe soles near the gate indicates that nobody is home.

• A Coca-Cola tin, red cloth and a crisps packet indicates that intruders can expect resistance from the residents.

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