Johannesburg- In South Africa the colour of the litter on the pavement outside your house could contain clues as to whether your home is being staked out by robbers, according to an insurance firm. A green object, such as a beer bottle, could be a signal to thieves to "go ahead, the coast is clear," whereas a red object, such as a Coca-Cola can, could be a sign to "steer well clear."
Removing litter from outside the door is just one on a list of tips on how to outsmart wily criminals from local insurance provider Outsurance.
The company recommends that homeowners bolt their electronic gadgets, such as televisions, computers and CD players together or secure them to shelves or wall brackets, making them more difficult to transport.
Laying gravel around the home could amplify the sound of robbers' footsteps, while refraining from putting your name on a letterbox or gate could prevent thieves from looking you up in the phone book and calling to check whether anyone is home, the firm says.
It also notes that plastic pipes and gutters are more likely to break under the weight of a burglar, and doors, windows and entrances that are clear of shrubs would prevent robbers from lurking there.
Burglaries are common throughout South Africa, a country with high levels of petty and violent crime. In the 12 months to March last year, 10,173 burglaries were reported.
