It only takes a moment
Three burglaries occurred where front doors had been left open for no more than a couple of minutes, which was enough for opportunist burglars to help themselves.

On the 17th Sept 2004 at about 0815hrs in Suffolk Road, SW13 a lady returned home, parked her car in the driveway, unlocked and opened her front door then went back out to the car to collect her baby. In the time this took her handbag was stolen from the hall of her house.

Also on the 17th Sept 2004 at 0800hrs in Gerards Road,, SW13 a lady went out of her front door and unlocked her car that was on the drive so her children could put their things in the car. The kids went out to the car put their things in it and stayed with the car. The lady then went to get her bag that had been left in the hall. It had gone!

On the 18th Sept 2004 at 0245hrs in Hilda's Road, SW13 a South African couple who had been staying at the address for the weekend had been out for a meal at a restaurant and on returning had left the door open while they were in another room. A male came into the house through the open front door took a wallet and handbag and then left. Male described as: black 30yrs 5'8 tall stocky build, wearing a red and white baseball cap, grey tracksuit top.

Robberies on Barnes Common
There have been five robberies from the 13th - 17th Sept; it's believed that the same male could have done them all.

The first happened on the 13th at about 1850hrs; a 51year old male had left Barnes BR station and was walking over the common towards his home. A black male was in front of him, and he walked past him, carrying on over the common towards home. He then heard someone running up behind him; it was the black male he had past who had now pulled his hood up. The black male demanded the victim's wallet. The victim turned and ran, but was not chased.

On the 15th at 1900hrs a 35 year old doctor was on his way to the station from Vine Road, again walking across the common, when he saw a black male in front of him, who then came towards him, produced a 4" serrated kitchen knife and demanded his phone and wallet. The doctor said refused and the male then pushed the doctor who grabbed hold of the male's wrists and started shouting for help. The male wriggled free and made off empty handed.

On the 16th at about 1540hrs a 44-year-old male was walking over the common from the BR station towards Vine road. A black male ran up from behind him, past him then turned round confronting him with a 6" smooth blade knife in his right hand. He shouted and demanded the victim's wallet and phone'. The victim handed over his wallet fearing he would be stabbed and told the male that he did not have a phone. The black male then ran off towards Barnes BR.

Two happened on the 17th - the first at 1510 when a 61 year old solicitor got of a bus near to Barnes BR station and was walking down the path from the station to Rocks Lane and Upper Richmond Road. He was approached by a black male, who drew a 4" knife and demanded wallet and phone. The victim had neither so handed over his credit cards. The black male then made off.

Then at 1710hrs a 53-year-old barrister was walking along the same path towards Rocks Lane, he veered off to the right along a woodland path near the cricket ground going towards Vine Road and his parent's house. He was then aware that someone was running after him. He turned and saw a black male running towards him, and he ran off towards the cricket green but got his foot tangled in some undergrowth and fell. The black male then stood over him with a 4" knife in his right hand, demanding wallet and mobile phone. The male took both and walked calmly off towards Rocks Lane.

The suspect in each case was described as: Male, black, 19yrs, 6'2 tall, thin with an English accent. The clothes were different on each occasion but always a hooded top and whilst confronting the victims had the hood pulled up over his head, dark trousers. One of the victims stated that he had wide-open protruding eyes. Any ideas as to the identity of this man call Kathy Fenwick 0208 247 7042

A couple of witness appeals - Burglaries
On the 7th Sept 2004 at 02.10in the morning, Fourth Cross road, Twickenham an Irish couple were asleep in their house, when the lady of the house was awoken by a noise. She went to the bathroom and then downstairs to find that someone had broken into the house via the ground floor bathroom window at the rear and taken various items of property. The police dogs attended the scene and found another break in a few doors away. If anyone was in the area at this early time or other residents of Fourth Cross road saw or heard anything please contact Kathy Fenwick 0208 247 7042.

On Sunday 19th Sept at 2200hrs a loud crashing noise was heard near the shops, The Parade, Lower Richmond Road, Richmond. A dark coloured vehicle was seen to speed off with 2 or 3 passengers in it. The car was believed to be a black Peugeot hatchback. One of the shops had been broken into, the front door window smashed, till draw open and money taken, plus bottles of Vodka. Again if anyone has any information regarding this please contact Kathy Fenwick 0208 247 7042.

Bomb hoax
On Wednesday 15th September 2004 at 10.40am the secretary at Sheen International School, Park Avenue, SW14 received a phone call from a male with a London accent saying 'There is a bomb in the building and it will go off in 10 minutes'. The secretary told the head teacher who started to evacuate the building and call the police. Police attended the scene. The school was totally evacuated but after waiting for a lot longer than ten mins, the call was deemed to be a hoax and the staff and students were let back in.

Pranks can be serious harrassment
From the 1st of September 2004 through to the 09th Sept a 56 year old disabled lady's life was made thoroughly miserable by take away meals being delivered to her address in Teddington that had not been ordered. Police and London ambulance service also arrived at her address, believing that the occupier had called them, only to find her safe and well and very confused by what was happening. These events over the two weeks in question put the lady under a great deal of distress. This sort of thing can be dealt with under the protection from harassment act and police will trace all calls and make arrests where possible.

Nasty robbery
On the 15th September at about 17.50hrs in Heathfield south, Twickenham a 55-year-old lady was walking on the pavement when she was grabbed around the neck from behind, in a headlock, by a male who then dragged her to the ground. She then heard the male say 'grab her watch'. Another male ripped her watch from her arm probably breaking the clasp; they then ran off down the road towards Whitton Road. The lady was left with a 1.5inch scratch on her left forearm where the watch had been pulled off.

The suspects are described as:
1) Male, black, 20yrs,wearing black jacket, black trousers with a red number written on the back.
2) Male, black, again 20yrs, tall wearing dark trousers and a dark jacket.

Any ideas as to who they might be to Kathy Fenwick 0208 247 7042.

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

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