THE news that criminals are marking properties in Durban has spread through communities like proverbial wildfire, putting paid to scoffs that the signs were merely part of urban legend.
The practise of marking properties was revealed at a recent community meeting addressed by Metro Police’s Capt Motsamai Dingaan and Francois Geldenhuys of Mzansi Fire and Security who both confirmed that the signs were real and urged residents to spread the word and keep a sharp eye out for anything that may look like litter outside their properties and remove anything that resembled markers.
Speaking at the Bulwer Community Safety Forum’s meeting last Tuesday night, Geldenhuys said the issue had been brought to light at a meeting with the police, and that markers had been spotted on the Berea.
Since the news of the markers was confirmed by police, residents have been posting on local community watch social networking sites about things they have spotted outside their properties.
One resident said his friend had found a chip packet stuck in his garage door in St Thomas Road. He became concerned in light of the news that criminals were marking properties.
Another resident was concerned about empty cans found outside her property, although the likelihood that they were remnants from a party held at a neighbouring property was high.
Their concerns reveal the hyper vigilance the news of criminal marking has had on the community.
Heather Rorick, chairperson of Bulwer Community Safety Forum, urged residents not to be so quick to dismiss the news as rubbish or a hoax.
“There have been reports of houses that have been hit where chip packets have been neatly folded and placed in gate motors or in the gate.
“There was also a case where stones placed in a row outside the property, indicating the exact number of people living in the house, was hit. This warning came from police officials themselves.
“It does not mean that every single tin or paper or chip packet that has blown or been dropped is a sign, however people must just get into a routine of checking and cleaning around their property as a safety measure and use their discretion and common sense.
“A neatly folded chip packet placed into a gate motor could not have blown in that way. All we are saying is rather be safe than sorry and just be aware of what is going on around you and your property,” she said.
Captain Dingaan listed signs that residents should watch out for. These have been compiled by police over several months, following attending crime scenes.
According to Dingaan, a “Z” painted on a stop sign or on the road means houses in the street are targeted for burglary. A pile of little stones warns of dogs, two big stones together means two old people live on the property and stones in a row indicate the number of people living in a house.
A Swastika painted on the road means houses in the street are targeted for burglary and the direction of the Swastika indicates which house is the target.
A Coke tin, red cloth, crisp packet and so on mean criminals can expect resistance. Two Coke tins indicates the owner is armed, a Coke tin opening towards the house means someone is home and an upright Coke tin means nobody is home.
A white sorghum carton or plastic bag means the property is an easy target. The sorghum carton facing towards the house means the target is marked, and a white plastic bag on a fence means this is an easy target.
Green used as a direction marker indicates the direction the criminals should proceed.
Blue and/or blue and white such as a Clicks packets represents an easy target and that someone inside will help.
A Simba (or Lays) chip packet, normally neatly folded, but sometimes weighed down by something inside the packet, where the crisp packet is facing the house, the owner is at home and when the crisp packet is facing the road, no-one is home.
Shoes and soles near or by the gate means no-one is home and the direction of the shoes indicates the escape route.
Wrong numbers on your house or cell phone means criminals are checking if you are home.
If your electricity is off at the main box, be aware of leaving the house open as the people inside are targets for criminals.
If you see sudden strange items in front of a house like a cardboard box, bricks or a tree branch, do not stop to remove or you will be a target.
A brick normally indicates a car to be stolen, two or three bricks (normally new bricks) means a house robbery is planned and two big stones together means two old people are home.
