The Ertzaintza has issued a warning about a new trend observed in recent weeks across Bizkaia: the placement of small pieces of play-doh or paper fragments in home locks. The aim of these criminals is to ascertain if the houses are empty, thereby creating an opportunity for subsequent burglaries.
On May 22nd, the Ertzaintza arrested a man 'in fraganti' in Barakaldo who was placing paper markers inside the locks of several apartments in a building. The detainee had prior convictions for property-related offenses.
A few days later, on May 27th, green play-doh was also found inside the lock of a residence in another building in Barakaldo, presumably for the same purpose. The use of play-doh as a marker has been detected on several occasions in various towns in Bizkaia over recent years.
As a preventive measure, if any object is found inside the lock, it must be reported to the Ertzaintza or the local police.
The Ertzaintza recommends examining the locks of the access door before inserting a key. If any object is found inside the lock, it should be immediately reported to the Ertzaintza or the local police of the municipality. This type of play-doh or paper marker is typically placed in older lock models.
Furthermore, the Ertzaintza warns that during the summer, temporary absences from homes are often exploited by burglars, who use markers and then attempt to access empty residences. It is also advisable to report the presence of any suspicious individuals loitering around the property, including in storage rooms or garages.
