A mum has issued a warning after spotting a strange 'X' symbol on her car window at night.
Laura Morgan, from Wallasey, said she noticed the marks on her car around two months ago. After taking and sharing photos of the two symbols that were drawn on her vehicle which was parked on the road, some have speculated that it could be a sign of illicit acitivity.
At first, Laura thought it was just some kids messing around but she began to realise that they were being drawn at nighttime when the kids wouldn't have been out and about, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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"It took almost two months for me to even realise what was happening, I thought it was kids at first, but it was happening between the hours of 10pm and 6am," she said. Reports came out earlier in the year that criminals sometimes use secret markings to notify others about the details of a property.
For example, an 'X' could signify that a property is a "good target" for illicit activity while a circle through an X could mean that there is nothing worth stealing in the property. The Safeguarding Hub which shares protection advice for homes across the UK told the Mirror: "Between us, we have a fairly extensive knowledge of burglary.
"We have spent many hours speaking to distraught victims, visiting crime scenes and dealing with burglars. We have actually seen and experienced these symbols being used by criminals.
"This is not to say that this is a common practice between bands of thieves, for most burglars work alone. We do not want to scaremonger and we can say confidentially that the use of these symbols is very rare.
"But, if you are a caregiver to an elderly or vulnerable person and spot strange marks outside their home, do you really want to dismiss it out of hand without just ensuring that the symbol is legitimate?"
Security Firm Keytek also weighed in on the bizarre markings. It said: "These ‘robbery markings’ or ‘burglar signals’ are basic sketches and forms that are supposedly used as a ‘code’ to determine whether a house is worth targeting.
"These illustrations are also supposed to indicate to other thieves what type of person lives at the property, such as whether the residents are vulnerable, elderly, or live in a single-family home."
It added: "Chalk is the main material burglars use as it is easily removed and not as noticeable as materials such as spray paint markings outside the house.
"As well as burglar chalk signs, burglars mark houses with almost anything they can; it may be a small blob of paint or a piece of string tied around a lamppost."
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