Residents worried symbols appearing on homes could be sign of burglary gang

Swieqi residents have noted some markings appearing on the facades of some buildings, and are concerned that these could be signs left by gangs for future burglaries, as had been the case years ago in different localities.

A number of residents expressed such concern when speaking to this newsroom, highlighting that in 2014 – primarily in Sliema and St Julian’s – some gangs had used symbols on the side of homes to mark their targets. A number of foreign people had been arrested and charged with the 2014 burglaries.

The Malta Independent contacted Swieqi Mayor Noel Muscat about this situation. He said, however, that the council had not been informed of such markings in Swieqi.

The mayor did say that residents in certain parts of Swieqi, as well as Madliena and the Victoria Gardens area were anxious.

He explained that these areas have seen residents become victims of thefts recently, and said that there were burglaries where the thieves even broke into homes when the residents were asleep inside.

Madliena residents, he said, have even formed a sort of neighbourhood watch, through an application, whereby if a resident sees something suspicious, the rest of the residents are alerted through the app.

Muscat explained that recently a locality meeting was held with an Assistant Police Commissioner and an inspector, and various concerns were raised by residents in that meeting, including the call for more patrols. He said that the Assistant Commissioner had expressed interest in holding a similar meeting in the near future.