Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Shoes Outside a House - a Burglars' Code?
We've all walked past houses local houses where unwanted items have been set on the wall or placed on the pavement, in either case to be taken.
At last week's meeting of the local residents' group it was suggested by one attendee that when shoes are placed outside a house, they are part of a burglars' code. The claim was that they signify that a house has been cased and deemed worthy of and viable for burglary.
The local police representatives who attended the meeting were unable to confirm this suspicion but were open to the possibility.
What do you think?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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Why would a burglar or burglar's associate tell other burglars that a house is worthy of burglary ?
Wouldn't they burgle it themselves ?
( I need a thesaurus to look for alternatives to the b.. word
)It's more likely to be someone coming back late from the pub who doesn't want to wake up the wife.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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These sorts of codes are apparently not unusual.
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Permalink Reply by Joss M on
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I saw articles on that at the time, and I think I read something more recently which debunked the whole thing - apparently they are symbols used by utility companies.
Here you go: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-35337747
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Ive often read of these various codes, but as John said, why would burglars reveal an easy touch? I have read of them in terms of US hobos in terms of a householders generosity but seriously doubt they have any basis in fact.
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I think the person's idea was that a team is working locally. One set knocks on the door under some pretence. They're followed by the house breakers. No idea if it's nonsense.
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on
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I thought shoes outside a house or tied up were a sign of a drug den..
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Not sure about burglary but apparently some drug dealers when scoping out new areas to stash their drugs will leave items in hedges/flower pots etc. If they aren't moved by the occupants after a certain period of time then they assume it is ok to leave their drugs there, whereas if they are removed they know not to.
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I have only come across this theory from one HoL member. My Haringey/London born and bred friends and family have never heard of it.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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I would have thought that every gang has it's own code. Best just to be aware of unusual things lying outside the house or on stairways of apartment blocks.
In my building, we always look out for sweet papers on the stairs.. or outside front doors. Most burglars work in gangs and have back ups to move the stuff around. They do use shoes or whatever as signs. In my area, they are mostly Balkan families who work together and move straight back home, when they've got enough to survive the next year or so back there.
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Permalink Reply by JoeW on
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Not sure if there is necessarily a code, but see this old thread.
I guess the process is something like:
- thief knocks on your door , if no one answers they leave a pair of shoes on the wall or a rubber band around the gatepost etc. (We once had some cut roses strewn in the porch which may have been a similar ploy).
- thief returns later at night or maybe a day or two later, if the rubber band or shoes are still there, they deduce that you're away and your house is a candidate for burglary.
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