Security expert warns homeowners over “kidney bean” trick

Be careful.

A security expert is warning homeowners of a new and terrifying way that burglars are marking homes as new targets. The new technique was first detected in the Manchester area and aims to establish if anyone is at home, away or on holiday. The method simply sees burglars put kidney beans on people's doorsteps in the evening or at night and wait to see if they're still there the following day. The idea behind it is that if they're cleaned up by the next day, you're home and if they're not, you're not there. Explaining the technique, security expert Elizabeth Johns told 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." Explaining that an empty home is a more desirable target for burglars, it is always the best idea for homeowners to ask a neighbour or friend or family to keep an eye on the house if you are away on holiday. Elizabeth is now urging those who might be in this position to look out for kidney beans on neighbour's doorsteps as well as their own and to clean them if found. Other signs of a potential robbery or if a burglar is targeting your home by piling stones near doorways or putting stickers on dustbins. It has also been reported that burglars have been leaving sellotape over front door keyholes to see if people are home, seeing if the tape breaks or not to note if anyone has gone into the house.