How to protect yourself?
Faced with this new ruse, law enforcement is calling for vigilance and recommending several preventive actions:
Do not leave the sheet in place: if you find one, remove it immediately.
Report any suspicious findings: notify the police or gendarmerie so that they can investigate and increase surveillance in your neighborhood.
Pay attention to your neighbors’ mailboxes: if you notice that a blank sheet of paper is slipped into their mailbox and remains there for several days, inform them.
Have your mail collected when you are away: if you are going away for several days, ask a trusted person to collect your mail daily.
Opt for the “Opération tranquille vacances” system: this free service allows the police to carry out surveillance rounds around your home during your absence. You can register with your police station or on the official government website.
Other signs left by burglars
This white sheet technique is not the only one used by burglars to identify houses to burgle. Some mark homes using discreet symbols engraved on mailboxes or walls. These signs, sometimes called “burglar hieroglyphs”, can indicate various messages: empty home, presence of a dog, house easy to break into, etc.
Everyone’s vigilance, effective protection
Faced with these schemes, collective vigilance remains the best defense. An attentive neighborhood, a rapid report to the police and a few simple precautions can considerably reduce the risks. Do not hesitate to inform your loved ones of these methods and share this advice to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
By remaining vigilant and applying these recommendations, we can all contribute to thwarting these tracking attempts and strengthening the security of our homes.
