What are the signs that a property has been cuckooed?
What are the signs that a property has been cuckooed?
Signs that a property has been taken over include:
- The victim not being seen by neighbours for a while
- An increase in the number of visitors to a property, with visits being brief in duration and occurring around the clock
- People remaining in the property while the victim is out
- Children and young people with no known connection to the victim seen entering the property
- Reports of an illegal sub-let
- Unfamiliar people driving the victim’s car
- An increase in litter outside of the property
- Graffiti
- Garden is overgrown
- External doors being propped open
- Curtains or blinds being closed during the day
- Damage to doors and windows
- Unknown people pressing buzzers to gain access to buildings
- Loud parties
- An increase in reports of anti-social behaviour
Upon entering a cuckooed property, the following may be observed:
- Drug-dealing or manufacturing equipment
- Piles of stolen goods
- Weapons
- Individuals with large amounts of cash, expensive items or multiple mobile phones
- Children and young people with no clear connection to the victim
- Bedding and clothing that does not belong to the victim
- Locks on internal doors (e.g. bedrooms)
- CCTV equipment
- Takeaway boxes or containers
- Damage to walls or doors