Forum Topic

Police Presence

We have had a number of incidents in the last couple of weeks involving cars in our street. Only last week my car was badly keyed. A number of my neighbours have also experienced this.However yesterday morning just after 6.15am I caught a young guy trying the doors to my boyfriends car. I banged on the window which startled him and then he proceeded to try my neighbours car. Again I banged on the window at which point he jumped on his bike and rode off. I did report this to the police and within a few minutes a police car was patrolling the area looking for the guy.I also learned that my neighbours son who lives a few roads away had his car broken into early yesterday morning. It just seems like too much of a  coincidence.Does anyone know of a name or contact where I can request regular patrols of our area as we have only ever seen a police officer once in the time we have lived in our neighbourhood. Or possibly at the council to request the cctv van to visit to deter these undesirables.ThanksEmma

Emma Daniels ● 5835d19 Comments

Emma, it would help to have a description of this young man as you got such a good look at him.  A pity you did not take a photograph.

Dee Cook ● 5835d

About 6 foot late teens or early twenties, dark jeans and grey hoodie, coloured skin, clean shaven, short hair, rode a silver mountain bike with black handlebars. Have to say I have now received a number of calls from the police which has been very helpful.

Emma Daniels ● 5835d

Emma. I am aware of a number of prople who have had their vehicles tampered with in the acton area recently in one way or another including mine. I shall be contacting the local Neighbourhood policing team. I suggest you do to. Details on Ealing Police website. Clearly their is a lowlife in the area who cannot comprehend that he is not legally entitled to other peoples cars and there contents. From what I have heard this person seems to be prowling about while we are all snug in our beds. Good luck.

Patrick Henry ● 5835d

Sorry. I see you have already spoken to the cops. Should have read to the end. Well done.

Patrick Henry ● 5835d

Surely, if you see someone being so blatant, dial 999!

Anne Brown ● 5834d

Emma, thanks for that, very useful.  I urge all if they see this person to let our local Community Police Unit know. This anti-social persons need to know that we are all watching out for them.

Dee Cook ● 5834d

Anne, unfortunately this does not produce an instant respect.  Car theft is not high on the policing agenda.

Dee Cook ● 5834d

I rang the local police  number and within minutes they had a car scouring the neighbourhood. I must say they have been amazing.

Emma Daniels ● 5833d

I'm impressed. When it works, it works well.  Just like the NHS.  Obviously a murder or other such incident would have taken precedence.

Dee Cook ● 5833d

hello emma, i guess it's you that spoke to my mother and i'm the one that got my car broken into on sunday morning.this sort of break-ins have been going on for years around this area and the police do nothing about it, when i rang them on sunday they said they would phone back between 48 and 72 hours later...they are not interested at all, i've had my home broken into twice and the reply i got was that these things happen in london.. very reassuring..!! i will probably get an e-mail from the cyperpolice trawling these site to ask if i want to talk about it like last time i had a moan but all i want is that my family and i are free to leave our homes and property safe in the knowledge that these lowlifes are not running our streets.btw, another car was broken into this morning opposite north acton park.

Vito Rivelli ● 5832d

a reminder ... it is essential that all such incidents are reported and given a number by the Police.  These are then entered onto a data base from which police resources are allocated.  The more incidents, the more police are allocated type of thing.  Of course in today's financial climate no doubt that will all change.  The 'Big Society' - does that mean we will have to 'police' our own areas!!!

Dee Cook ● 5832d

i'm sorry dee,am i missing thr point here? i've read one of your previous post stating 'I'm impressed. When it works, it works well.' has the thief been arrested and charged? has the thief paid for the damage he's caused? has he apologised for his actions? by the sounds of it he's still at it! so i don't think that  'it's'  working. btw. on a lighter note, i used to go to school with someone called patrick henry...is that you? roamed the streets of camden in 80s

Vito Rivelli ● 5832d

you might want to come along on Wednesday night and make these points to our councillors. I would hope the new community sergeant - who is supposed to be a bright spark but who seems invisible so far - will be there as well.

Sara Nathan ● 5832d

sorry, not me, I'm female and mucht to old to have roamed the streets of Camden in the 80's.  I knew Camden in the 60-70's - it was much more interesting then!My one exprience with youths who tried to grab hold of my bag, resulted in an almost instant response from the local police.  I was able to give a good discription of the offenders who appeared to be known to the police.  But it ended there.

Dee Cook ● 5832d

i'm sure camden was a cracking in the 60s with the  likes of pink floyd and the doors playing at the roundhouse in chalk farm.i was referring to patrick henry who posted earlier..

Vito Rivelli ● 5832d

I agree with you Dee. The police do a good job. They really have got their hands full down this neck of the woods. I have never personally had to call the police but my partner has and she also got an instant response and as a result they caught the perpetrators in the process. The police have to have priorities as they have bugdget and staffing restraints like any other big organisation. Unfortuanately car break ins are seldom witnessed and they can happen so quickly. As long as they are made aware of the problem and all incidents are reported then I am sure it will be dealt with. . . . . and I still roam the streets of Camden to this day. Some things just never change!

Patrick Henry ● 5832d

oops !!!

Dee Cook ● 5832d

Its a pity the Roundhouse isn't used much these days. It is a wonderful performing space.

Dee Cook ● 5832d

If there is some sort of crime occurring at the time and the police have a chance to catch someone then dial 999 immediately, do not wait. If you are reporting what is a relatively minor crime, with little chance of catching someone, even if the cost to sort the problem may be comparatively high, then at least report it to the neighbourhood team because they do not receive reports from the regular police but can submit a report themselves.

Chris Bell ● 5829d