Pictures of secret graffiti codes being used by criminal gangs to help target homes worth robbing have been revealed – to warn homeowners to beware.
Detectives have discovered how burglars are using their own special language to help communicate to each other how best to rob homes.
And their codes scribbled on lamp posts, walls or driveways indicate whether their inhabitants are ‘rich’, a ‘vulnerable female’, ‘elderly’, or ‘on holiday’.
The ‘tagging’ system also allows criminals to indicate if a house is alarmed or too risky to consider burgling.
Trading standards chiefs in Wales released the images to ask householders to be on their guard – after police rumbled one house in Conwy, North Wales, which was ‘marked’.
A spokesman said: ‘A symbol has been drawn directly outside of the house, indicating that the owners of the property are one of a number of things including ‘elderly and vulnerable’ and ‘previous victim.’
‘Unfortunately there are ”repeat victims” within our communities that are targeted again, and again, and again.’
Symbols are drawn with spray cans or marker pens directly outside homes to allow would-be crooks to check who is at home and their chances of success before attempting a break in.
Conwy Council trading standards said similar instances had been reported in the past, and they have decided to publicise the most common symbols so residents can report them if found.
A trading standards’ spokesman said: ‘If you see a mark on your home that you don’t know about or you see a mark on an elderly neighbours house, please raise it with either your local PCSO or police station.’
DAILY MAIL