We like to think that we’re safe in our homes, but the sad reality is that there are people out there who would like to do us harm and break in to take things that aren’t theirs. These brazen criminals are coming up with all sorts of ways to mark homes as potential targets.

One security expert has revealed a rather shocking new method in which burglars are targeting homes for theft. Those living in the UK – particularly around the Manchester area – should be wary of this technique.

Photo: Pixabay/TheDigitalWay

It’s so terrifying because it’s so easy to miss. According to The Sun, burglars are now using kidney beans as a means of establishing whether or not someone is at home or possibly away on vacation.

The way they’re doing this is that potential burglars are placing kidney beans on the doorsteps of people’s homes at night, then coming back the following day to check if they’re still there or not.

The idea behind this is that if you’re home, you’ll tidy it up or move it around. Therefore if the kidney bean is still in the same place as the day before, then it’s a clue that the homeowner is not at home.

Photo: flickr/Marco Verch Professional Photographer

As Elizabeth Johns, security expert, explained to The Sun, “It seems ridiculous, but we heard a while back that people are putting kidney beans on the front of people’s doors. Obviously, if you’re in you’d clean them up. But if you’re away then if the tin of kidney beans was still there then that suggests that you’re away. This was happening in our local community in Manchester.”

Johns is now encouraging residents of the area to be on alert and to clean up any kidney beans they might find either on their porch or that of a neighbor who might be away for vacation. She explained that an empty home is always the ideal target for burglary, so if you’re going away on vacation it might be a good idea to ask a neighbor or close friend to keep an eye on your place while you’re away.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

But the kidney beans aren’t the only means by which burglars are checking to see which homes would make prime targets for break-ins. Another method that is reportedly being used is sellotaping your front door keyhole. This is an almost fool-proof method since a kidney bean might be overlooked by someone at home but there is no mistaking sellotape still on the keyhole as a guarantee that no one has been home in a while. Other signs might be a pile of rocks next to doorways or even stickers left out on doors or garbage bins.

Either way, vigilance of your surroundings is always important to make sure that your home isn’t possibly being targeted by thieves.