A mum has issued a terrifying warning to any women who find an x marked on their car.
Laura Morgan, from Wallasey, Merseyside, explained that she noticed the unusual markings on her car two months ago and didn't suspect anything dangerous at first.
In fact, she thought they had been drawn by her children.
Advert
However, when she removed the markings, she realised that they were appearing on her car at night, which meant that her kids definitely weren't responsible.
"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 told the Liverpool Echo.
She is now sharing the symbols so that others know when their homes - and person - could be in danger.
Advert
As reported by The Mirror, experts have now weighed in on the crosses and said that they were the work of criminals planning their next attacks.
If a person's car has an X on it, this means that their house is a 'good target' for a robbery, while an x with a circle through it means that the would-be burglars have decided there's nothing worth stealing inside.
But perhaps most concerningly criminals are using a triangle symbol to reveal that a house is occupied by a woman living alone.
This triangle is accompanied by straight lines which are used to indicate the valuables that may be inside her home too.
Advert
The Safeguarding Hub warned against the symbols, stating: '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.
Advert
"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?"
Keytek, a security firm, described the symbols as 'robbery markings' or 'burglar symbols' and they explained that they are typically drawn with chalk.
"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," they explained.
Advert
"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."
Topics: News
Emma Guinness