Shoes Thrown Over Telephone (Etc) Wires.

[ferlew]

Had a little toddle up to my village fish and chip shop last night, and there were at least 4 or 5 pairs of shoes tossed onto the overhead wires.
1. why on earth do folks do this and

2. I wonder how long they spend trying to get them up there.
Maybe there's a knack ??

[10ClarionSt]

At one point, this used to be a signal to indicate a point of sale for drug pushers. Not sure why there would be 3 pairs though.

[fiveleaves]

Originally a sign that drugs might be obtained locally, but that would be known to the police now

[ferlew]

Really?
They weren't all in a group, they were spaced out in maybe a 600 yard stretch.

[Peter Pedant]

yes drugs

three points of sale

One of the ads - the afrocaribbean who overcomes a tooth abscess and becomes a  - - barista ! - has a shot with shoes....

[jourdain2]

Agreed, that it is drug- related; they are usually markers of the starts/ends of territories.

[Buenchico]

The drug-dealing connection is almost certainly a myth:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_tossing

 

 

[jourdain2]

Hmmmm. Interesting, Buen.  It may have started like that and still be done for those reasons, of course, but it is very definitely used for the reasons I mentioned as well - and has been for some time.

Near where maths-teacher daughter No.2 lives - out from cities - her school  is fighting a 'county lines' influence as gangs from 2 nearby cities attempt to establish themselves in the area.  The 'flung trainers' are definitely a part of that.

I suppose one pair of trainers thrown over lines could well encourage high-spirited kids to emulate them.

[DarceyK123]

But surely if this was true the dealers would also be flagging up to the Police where they are.

[Arksided]

I knew of the Urban myth about drugs. However have they being any muggings in your area lately some poor lost soles have lost their human occupiers.

[jno]

I see what you did there, Arksided. Were they selling uppers by any chance?

[barry1010]

It was never about drugs.  What's a druggie supposed to do?  Walk round the streets looking for trainers in the air, knock on random doors?  How's the drug seller supposed to get them them down when he's sold out? 

Nowadays, anytime a firework goes off FB is full of posts about it - and the answer is that it is a drug dealer informing his customers he has new stock.  Makes me laugh

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds like idiocy regardless of the excuse. Authorities should remove and recycle them.

[ferlew]

We are so lucky here, rarely a crime reported unless it's kids taking takeaway food down the lane and lighting a little fire. Or the odd garden theft. Been here 23 years and I don't think I've ever heard of a mugging or any kind of violence.
I do feel very fortunate to live in this village :)

[rowanwitch]

The firework thing is strange,  locally it really happens, maybe a local dealer has decided to turn the urban myth to good effect.  Firework goes off,  dealer pulls up at unused bus shelter opposite our block, group of lads on bikes, wearing hoodies with face covering ride up, stuff is passed through window of car, lads cycle off... Police are aware and have tried to catch him but either failed or hope he will lead them further up the chain.

[davebro3]

no overhead wires on our estate - all the cabling is underground.