Warning...look out for these symbols!

melorablack

pulliptears wrote: »

Strange though isn't it? Something I would have dismissed as a hoax usually.

Maybe we should all chalk the "Nothing worth stealing" symbol on our front doors lol

I wonder do they have regional variants of these symbols?

Knowing my luck the "not worth stealing" symbol would mean "jackpot" where I live.

PeteMc

One of the English language Welcome to Paris books distributed to newcomers details all the symbols used by French burglars. In addition to the ones mentioned here there's guns on the premises, vicious dogs, amorous females :rotfl:and quite a few others.

It's no hoax there but never seen it here.

hollydays

I am offended.They have never chalk marked my house. hmm..i'm going off to sulk.

melorablack

While we are on the subject (sort of) I was told by my dad when I was much younger, I've never really believed him (he's the sort that tells you that the chime on the ice cream van means they have run out of ice cream) - that if you see a pair of trainers tied together hanging from an electricity/phone wire it means there are drug dealers operating in the area.......

hollydays

And if a woman put a box of "OMO" soap powder(you have to be old enough to remember this..btw!) in her window,it was a "come on" sign to men,meaning "Old Man Out":rotfl: .I know this cos somebody told me and their son told them and he is a Police Officer.

yorksrabbit

Not an urban myth. It's a cack-handed evolution of the old-style -- very, very old-style, going back to Conan Doyle's days -- of "tramp markings". Some half-wit, somewhere, has decided to work on a new code and for all I know, flog it to quarter-wits in the criminal fraternity (of whom there will be many). The idea of potential burgrals going around signalling their intended targets is quite bizarre but these people are not especially renowned for their IQ, only its absence thereof.

Added: best thing is to chalk an outline of a Colt Magnum on your fence or wall.

In Los Angeles, that signifies the existence of an Armed Response Neighborhood. . .

Halloway

sarahg1969 wrote: »

Operation Litotes, a distraction burglary operation (ended in 2005).

I recall that Operation Litotes was not unsuccessful.

pulliptears

melorablack wrote: »

While we are on the subject (sort of) I was told by my dad when I was much younger, I've never really believed him (he's the sort that tells you that the chime on the ice cream van means they have run out of ice cream) - that if you see a pair of trainers tied together hanging from an electricity/phone wire it means there are drug dealers operating in the area.......

I have heard that, but I assumed that was stuff of urban legend. I commented to OH a few weeks ago that you dont see that often now, when we were kids in the 70's/80's they were everywhere! Usually alongside an Action Man with Parachute

hollydays

yorksrabbit wrote: »

Not an urban myth. It's a cack-handed evolution of the old-style -- very, very old-style, going back to Conan Doyle's days -- of "tramp markings". Some half-wit, somewhere, has decided to work on a new code and for all I know, flog it to quarter-wits in the criminal fraternity (of whom there will be many). The idea of potential burgrals going around signalling their intended targets is quite bizarre but these people are not especially renowned for their IQ, only its absence thereof.

Added: best thing is to chalk an outline of a Colt Magnum on your fence or wall.

In Los Angeles, that signifies the existence of an Armed Response Neighborhood. . .

Yorks RAbbit,I like that word burgral,it's got a kinda rural feel to it.

tomstickland

If you believe it then ask your locak hieroglyphics expert to spend an hour putting the "already burgled" symbol up