Marks
When con artists talk about victims they call them ‘marks.’ The folk wisdom if that it comes from the chalk markings that swindlers put onto the shoulders of suckers to show other con artists where the easy pickings are.
It’s similar to the old urban legend about hobos leaving marks outside of houses to tell other hobos whether a house is welcoming or unsafe.
Now, we have the 21st century version with reports of theives in the UK leaving chalk markings to tell their peers what sort of goodies a house has.
I suspect this particular story is a beat up, a hoax blown up by the newspapers.
Firstly, no criminals have been quoted as saying they know about or have used the system.
Secondly, criminals don’t tend to leave hints for other criminals. There is little honour among theives.
Thirdly, it’s the kind of story which is easy to fake and hard to prove false.
if it is true, now we can all mark our houses as not worth it.
I agree. Fake.
Why would they tell other crims? How do the papers know what’s going on? How do crims see in houses they have not already robbed?
Fake fake fake
Kate - That’s true! Play the swindlers at their own game.
Jk - You make a good point. I often wonder how this inside information gets spread…
I love the “Already Been Burgled” symbol.
Those crims are really artistic!