Chilling secret code burglars use to mark homes they're going to steal from

Chalk signs on the floor outside your house could have a chilling meaning. Burglars use a secret code to identify opportunities where they can target families.

These markings, known as the "thieves guild code" or "Da Pinchi Code". They are used by organised gangs, who make a living stealing from others.

They use symbols to indicate whether a property is likely to yield valuable items and how many people live there. Burglars typically use white or blue chalk or spray paint to leave these tags on walls, driveways, and fences.

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Experts have also identified other tactics used by burglars, including tying string to fences, placing stickers on bins, and leaving stones or kidney beans on doorsteps to indicate houses of interest. If the beans are not cleared, the burglars assume the property is vacant.

Here, we decode the meaning behind some of these symbols....

A simple 'X' means the home is a good target, while the same symbol outlined with a circle means there is nothing worth stealing in the property.

A capital D with a dash drawn in it indicates that burgling the house is too risky, while five circles in the shape of a star shows that a property is wealthy.

Other marks reveal if a house is alarmed or has already been burgled.