to worry about these weird symbols drawn on houses in our area?

[WeirdSymbols]

This morning I was coming out of my back gate to walk my dogs and noticed a symbol drawn on a the wall (photos included). It is drawn in chalk and is an M inside a circle.
I started to walk down the alleyway and noticed symbols drawn next to the back gate of every house. Mostly the same M in a circle but also stars inside circles (more like a bike wheel) and some strange dashes.
I googled these types of criminal signifiers and nothing that exactly matches shows up.

I've phoned 101 who said it had already been reported and they were sending information to the local station but that they think is probably just kids messing around.

Something about it is really worrying me and I've just ordered more security lights and alarms and lights for our outbuildings.

Should I be knocking on doors? There are at least 12 houses near me with these symbols, will people think I am woo?

Does anyone know anything about this?

Name change because I discussed this with a friend earlier and I know she uses MN.

Our vet warned us of something similar, dogs are being stolen for dog fighting. S, M or L in our area depending on size of dog. Be vigilant and warn your neighbours

Urban legend or not I'd be wiping it off too

It's the Illuminati, they're everywhere.

First though was kids, but the hand looks too driven/confident & mature? Window cleaners could make sense.
(Back of our house had a massive pentagram in chalk/scratches on the brickwork when we moved in! )

Aliens

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername it was bolded to denote that it was a quote FGS.

Well, now I know what to do when I lose all sense of morality and someone pisses me off!

Did everyone miss the post from the OP explaining it was the window cleaner?

(Yes I did see the OP's update)

I either wash these off or, if I can find some chalk, I add other symbols alongside just to confuse the perpetrator!

But what is the window cleaner going to do to the houses marked with a star?

@MrsRhubarb obviously the houses marked with a star are the ones that are a perfect portal for demons to come through, and steal their dogs.

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza all of the burglars know each other and have phone numbers for each other?

I think they are probably marks from would be random MN FC parking wannabees , they are sneaking around finding MNetters in nice areas before parking their cars in a manner likely to cause a 1000 post thread.

Mrs Rhubarb, the houses marked with a star are the ones where workmen are not allowed to use the loo. Or the other way around.........

A criminal gang is more likely to communicate via encrypted WhatsApp than by chalk symbols, yes.

Unless ragdoll you think that these are unconnected burglars leaving helpful tips for each other? That's really not how it works.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/communitys-fears-after-mysterious-road-markings-used-by-burglars-appear-on-footpaths-35377191.html

I think this is what the op means, naturally it could be kids, of course criminal gangs would have number for each other but not all the burglars know each other :)

I'd guess they were markings by Hashers: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HashHousee_Harriers

A friend of mine had her partners transit van stolen off their drive and used in burglaries about 80 miles away. Police said they had been targeted. There were chalk marks outside their house. I don't think it's an urban myth.