Crosses on mailboxes not a sign of impending burglary, say police

You may have heard about the strange phenomena of unfamiliar cans or garden tools suddenly appearing in your neighbor’s driveway, or an unexpected cross marked on their mailbox or house. These are often touted as signs of burglars scouting the neighborhood. Recently, a Facebook post warning residents of Esbjerg about these crosses on their mailboxes and front doors was shared over 800 times.

However, despite the numerous stories about how burglars operate and check if you’re home, police districts that were contacted reported that this is not how burglars typically work. “There is nothing in our analysis, investigations, or interrogations that can prove that this is how burglars prepare,” says Hans Roost, a police inspector responsible for investigation and prevention. This message is echoed by several other police districts in the country.

Similarly, Torben Simonsen, Deputy Chief of Police in the Southeast Jutland Police District, has not observed this method in action. “We have nothing to support the notion that you should be particularly worried about a burglary because a cross has been put on your mailbox, or a can has been placed on it,” he says.

While acknowledging that there might be burglars who use such methods, it’s not something they commonly encounter. In typical residential burglaries where thieves often target jewelry or cash, police witness a different modus operandi. “We find more often that burglars select an area, preferably with the ability to move around unnoticed due to a hedge or a fence, and the specific house is only chosen at the time of the crime,” explains Roost.

Despite a cross on the mailbox not necessarily indicating an imminent burglary, it’s not a waste to post about it on social media if you notice something unusual at your residence, says Simonsen. He encourages citizens to be aware of changes in their environment. He also suggests several preventive measures to minimize the risk of burglary while away, such as arranging with a neighbor to use your trash can giving the impression that someone is home, and having a car parked in the driveway.

The woman who shared the widely circulated post in Esbjerg declined an interview request.