It’s a sad fact that winter is the worst time of the year for burglaries, with shorter days meaning more opportunities for callous thieves.
Recent research from AA Ireland found that 42% of home insurance claims for burglaries are made between the months of October and January, meaning we are approaching the peak time.
It comes as warnings have been issued about chilling street markings that some claim burglars are using to target homes.
READ MORE: Top Irish doctor fears 'hell on earth' doomsday winter scenario due to Covid and flu
One TikTok user shared a video explaining the codes last week and it has since racked up over 1.3 million views.
Jamie Nyland said: “If you see this marking outside of your house you need to get help. Burglars are using these symbols to represent which household you are.
“And they’re drawing these symbols outside the houses they're planning on going to. These are known as kerb codes for burglars and even the police are telling you to look out for these markings outside your home.
“So if you see any of these markings you need to call for help.”
There are six codes used and they each represent:
- Alarmed
- Nervous/Afraid
- Burgled before
- Vulnerable female
- Too risky
- Nothing worth stealing
Gardai have yet to issue any warning about the street markings however police in the UK have been alerting the public about the symbols for some time and there are fears they could also be used here.
In 2014 West Yorkshire Police shared an image of the signs people should look out for.
Other Forces including County Durham, Lanarkshire and Devon and Cornwall have also highlighted the issue.
Thousands of people commented on the viral TikTok video with some arguing the symbols could be confused with construction markings or road worker information.
Many also made the same joke: “Tomorrow I’m buying spray paint and marking my house ‘nothing worth stealing’. I win.”
Victims of burglary are advised to call their local Garda station to report the crime straightaway. If they think intruders may still be inside, contact 999/112 immediately.
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