While on Flickr.com the other day I saw a photo taken by Peruvian photographer Christian Vinces, which illustrated how thieves/burglars use their own form of hieroglyphic-esque code to identify potential targets.  As the photo shows below this is done on the target home/building itself usually with the use of chalk, pen, pencil or even a chisel/screwdriver.  These drawings help the other burglar associates understand the possible dangers they might face once inside the property or know how many people occupy the dwelling along with the hours that they are normally present.  The fact that this information is public now probably means that they have adapted and altered their code to protect their illegal activities.  

The symbols in the photo on the right side cover the following: big dog, not very interesting, easy in the morning, easy at night, their away - no difficulties, old woman alone all day, easy in the afternoon, children alone in the morning, abandoned, woman alone, home of rich people, children alone in the afternoon, good objective, recently observed, very interesting/lucrative, and home of businessman


On the left of the photo the following symbols mean: Unoccupied home + the months unoccupied, generous people, don't bother/insist, people available, Sundays, and nights

Earlier this month a lung was reported stolen from the "Bodies" exhibition currently in Lima, Peru.  The manager Susan Hoefken stated that a theft of this kind has never happened before.  Her company even offered a $2,000 reward if the lung was returned, well that was two weeks ago and since then nothing was reported until yesterday.

Thursday the media revealed the author of the embarrassing crime to be none other than (DRUM ROLL PLEASE)..................................................................................

Surprised I bet, I sure was when I found out that the alleged and reported theft was none other than a marketing stunt and hoax.  Susan Hoefken had taken the lund in an attempt to generate better marketing for her company and the exhibition.  According to the testimony of an ex-employee Javier Sánchez, Ms.Hoefken had instructed him to go and attend to a few journalists who had shown up.  It was in those 10 minutes while he was away that Ms. Hoefken seized the opportunity to take the lung.  When he returned he was shocked to find the display to be missing an organ. 

The PNP (Policia Nacional del Peru) reported that they recieved a tip from an annonymous employee with the US company of the exhibit which, led them to an email that implicates Ms. Hoefken as the author of the crime. 



For her dishonorable and illegal actions Ms. Hoefken was cited to appear in court today by the police.  For not appearing at her scheduled court case Ms. Hoefken could be looking at a possible four years in prison.  She has until next Tuesday to present herself before the Peruvian court or face harsher consequences.  Will she show up?  An interesting question given the fact that since she was implicated in the crime she has since gone AWOL, and aside from the police she also has the media searching for her as if she was Carmen San Diego.

It's no doubt that this woman has brought international shame and embarrassment to all Peruvians.  I mean it's bad enough that Peru and Peruvian's get such a bad rap in the Latin American community so it sure as hell doesn't paint a prettier picture of us when news spreads that a LUNG of all things is stolen from an internationally recognized and popular exhibition while in Peru.  If you ask me this woman deserves to be thrown in prison for four years for the crimes she has committed just like those parents of the helium ballon hoax should have their children taken away for that stupid stunt they created. 

Let's just hope that some other country does something even more embarrassing and shameful (which shouldn't be long) to draw attention away from Peru.