For many of us (especially those with young children or pets), it’s not uncommon to see your house or garden in various states.
I don’t know how many times I’ve come home, seen something clearly wrong, and wondered “how on earth did that end up there?”
Very often, my children have something to do with it. If they’re innocent, the blame often falls on the dog or cats. My point is, it’s very rare that anything out of the ordinary gets me thinking or, worse yet, disturbs me in some way or form.
But now, when a woman from Manchester, UK, received a warning after finding food remnants in her front yard, I’m now examining all the anomalies that occur on my property more closely.
A can of red beans by the door
Reportedly, the woman in question, Maria Celino-Straker, returned home one day to discover someone had emptied a can of red beans by her front door.
Naturally, Maria assumed she had fallen victim to some boys in the neighborhood playing a prank. If not, maybe a fox had dragged the beans out of a trash can and got scared when crossing the garden.
A family member – who happens to also be a police officer – apparently changed her mind. He warned her about what this seemingly innocent can of beans could mean.
A thief’s trick
Now, I didn’t know this, but apparently leaving food scraps or other items by someone’s door is a trick used by thieves. After all, they hope to confirm whether the homeowner is home, not on vacation, or away for some time.
After placing the chosen waste or debris in someone’s front yard, the prospective thief waits to see if it gets cleaned up or removed. If it does, then it’s a sign that the person is home, and the thief is better off looking for another property. If the waste – in Maria’s case, the can of beans – remains, it often means the homeowner is not home. This, of course, makes the home vulnerable to thieves.
Maria Celino-Straker wisely decided to share the information she read on Facebook. This in the hope that others, unaware of this simple trick, are better informed!
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad she did!
Did you know about this trick? Let us know in the comments. In the meantime, share this article on Facebook so others stay informed!
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