Hi all,
Just letting you know to be careful with your phones in the SG area.
I was standing outside Venezia last night chatting to a mate and two guys came up behind me on a scooter (yup, they rode down the footpath), punched me in the side of the head and ripped my phone out of my hand.
Apparently mine was the 2nd or 3rd such attack last night so these guys seem to think they're on to a good thing.
Cheers,
Drew
P.S If you happened to be in the area and saw anything happen, I'd be most grateful for any information.
Comments
What did the cops say?
My friends son (16) was accosted for money and phone by three young guys after coming out of the tube 10 days ago but a passer by butted in to ask if everything was okay and in that moment he ran back to the tube for safety and his ma came and got him. I have scolded them for not reporting as I know the local cops always want to know what the bad people are up to.
That sounds really horrible. What time did it happen?
Our car was broken into in Ennis Road last night and someone wedged our bell on at 1 in morning. There seems to be a bit of a nasty undercurrent going on in SGRd at moment.
Take care
It happened between 8:30 and 8:35 last night (May 11).
The cops were very nice but pretty sanguine about the whole thing. There's slim-no-chance of my phone being recovered but they're on the case with tracking the perps down.
@norn iron: thanks for the tip about the Safer Neighbourhoods Team. I was chatting to some fellow SGers in Venezia afterwards (shout-out to Martin the hairdresser and Donna who gave me a calming glass of wine) and, as long-time locals, they mentioned seeing a change in mood in the area for the worse. Deffo time to step up the safer neighbourhood actions I'd say.
@thelogicalsong Sorry to hear about the car. Now I won't just be looking over my shoulder, I'll be constantly peering out of my window at my car :P
Cheers one and all,
Drew
I second Arkady, you were really unlucky! I've been here well over five years, and have never seen or experienced anything unpleasant!
Twenty years ago they'd wouldn't have dared round here, ten years ago it wouldn't have been worth it, now however it's relatively rich pickings.
Probably does also progress to a point where such crime decreases again, either because the police realise an area has a particular problem ii didn't have before and get a handle on it, or the criminals are priced out of living in/near the area.
Perception and fear of crime is the big one, just like fear of losing your job in recession is the economy killer not the actual job losses.
However, the problem with crime is the amount that goes unreported as people don't think the police will bother investigating and seem to tolerate more low level crime as a 'oh well, that's life' event.
I'll bet there is a fair amount of that in Stroud Green so the stats won't tell the full picture.
The big example is car crime - I've done it, after all it's not worth the hassle, sadly my experience with the police over the years has been mainly a frustrating combination of extreme bother reporting anything plus disintrest from the police and frustration getting anything followed up.
This ranges from burglary, to a man, who was identified, punching my sister when she stepped in to tell him to stop attacking his girfriend, to car break-in, to our car being written off by a drunk driver who ran away.
I broadly support the police and they do a tough job but they've really messed up in the last 10 to 15 years in the whole public support, eyes and ears essential element of their job.
Most people only report low level crime if they need to for insurance, if they know that won't pay out or the excess is too high they don't bother.
The point about the stuff open on SGR at night being eyes on the street is a good one and definitely makes it safer.
Shame the only time we really see police patrolling on foot is when Arsenal are playing though.