Britons have been warned of a cunning tactic used by burglars to check if houses are empty during the half-term holiday.
The Metropolitan police have warned that the burglars are changing a noticeable feature outside the property to see if anyone is home.
It comes after there has been a surge of burglaries in the Bickley and Sundridge area of London over recent weeks.
Suspects have been leaving dirt on the doorstep of targeted properties to see if it gets cleared before committing the crime.
Britons have been warned of a cunning tactic used by burglars
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A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “We have been informed that the suspect has been moving/leaving items or putting dirt on the doorstep to see if it is cleaned by occupants, to check if you are home or on holiday.”
If the dirt is cleared, it shows that the residents are home and it is not an ideal house to select.
However, if it is not, then police suggest it is a sign the occupant could be on holiday and the house could be a target for burglaries.
Earlier this month, Bickley Community Watch issued a warning after a man broke into several properties in broad daylight.
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There has been a surge of burglaries in the Bickley and Sundridge area of London in recent weeks
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The group said: “On one occasion he [was seen] on CCTV getting off a 261 bus and walking straight into a property side alley and smashed in through the rear patio doors.
“He then also attempted the next door neighbour. This has happened at Bromley Common and Sundridge Park.”
The Met is yet to confirm whether there is a link between this man and the suspect leaving dirt outside properties.
In January, analysis from The Telegraph found that in 30 per cent of neighbourhoods across the UK, police officers had failed to solve a single burglary, personal theft or locate a stolen bike.
There has been a surge of burglaries in the Bickley and Sundridge area of London in recent weeks
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New figures have revealed that 60,000 hours of police time were spent on non-hate crime incidentsGetty
Data from the police revealed that no burglaries or thefts had been solved in 10,135 of the 33,970 neighbourhoods in England and Wales in the past three years.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “As part of our mission to take back our streets we will restore neighbourhood policing in local communities by delivering 13,000 neighbourhood police and community support officers.
“The Home Office will take a more active role to improve standards in policing so that charge rates increase, more crimes are solved and justice is delivered for victims rebuilding confidence and trust in policing.”