Burglaries on GLE .....

[Jax]

I feel now that we should all be made aware if the spate if burglaries on golden lane estate recently.

I don't want to alarm people too much but I have lived here a long time and burglary is unheard off.

I was burgled in August they crow barred my door open and there was 2 in Hatfield house last week plus a few others in the last 6 months.

I have been informed that there are now plain clothed police on the estate in the evenings now.

I feel really saddened by this we must all make sure security doors are closed and be more vigilant if one sees suspicious characters .

It seems they are aiming on ground floor flats .we do not have CCTV so it is hard for police to catch them.

[Maria Elizabeth Prior]

Jax, am very sorry to hear of your experience.  Your case was mentioned when the issue was raised at the last Residents' meeting.  It was pointed out that, at the time you were burgled the security door was not working!  I trust the COL have apologised to you, although I won't hold my breath!  Its simply not good enough.  We pay our service charges towards security. 

You are right in that burglaries around here were virtually unheard of.  I don't let anyone in with me, unless I know them, or can see they are residents, and always make sure the security doors are shut behind me, but unfortunately some people are not vigilant.  Its a shame we have to be, but we really have no choice under the circumstances.  I hope you are feeling better after what must have been a terrible shock for you.    

[James B]

As I have stated in another forum, I know of one door that has been faulty for well over a year, and still, nothing has been done.

[Maria Elizabeth Prior]

Hi James.  I presume you mean a security door, and am not surprised to hear it is still faulty.  However, the COL have far more important things to do like threatening cat owners with legal action, despite knowing there have been cats here for years, throwing people's things out of sheds, and then changing the locks, and trying to force the 'victim' to pay for it, using H&S to 'monitor' spaces between plants, and other such issues, to have any time in dealing with matters that us residents actually pay our service charges for!!!  I don't know whether to laugh or cry, although have done both!

[nathan]

I wonder how long the burglars will take to work out the security doors at Crescent House, Hatfield House and Culum Welch House are usually busted for 6 months of the year, and the estate office staff sometimes jam the lock open with a broken screw so the door is open at all times, and the lights don't work on the top floor of Crescent House for weeks at a time, lucky they are only burgling for the mean time and not raping or mugging. I guess this must be the new improved maintenance and repairs service, to go with the first class cyclical soviet style paint work in Crescent House, done to such a high standard I believe they asked the same company back to do it again, and when every time the door entry system is bodged, oops I mean repaired less and less seems to work, like no camera to be viewed in your flat, no automatic door opening sensors etc, which is probably god knows how many times a year, but I suppose this is good economic sense or economic growth or something like that, to pay a company over and over so many times a year to come and Sellotape and blue tack together the system.

[Kate]

Well that was a clever thing to say! For the reference, our security door at Cullum Welch House has been absolutely fine for the last year I've lived there :)

nathan said:

I wonder how long the burglars will take to work out the security doors at Crescent House, Hatfield House and Culum Welch House are usually busted for 6 months of the year, and the estate office staff sometimes jam the lock open with a broken screw so the door is open at all times, and the lights don't work on the top floor of Crescent House for weeks at a time, lucky they are only burgling for the mean time and not raping or mugging. I guess this must be the new improved maintenance and repairs service, to go with the first class cyclical soviet style paint work in Crescent House, done to such a high standard I believe they asked the same company back to do it again, and when every time the door entry system is bodged, oops I mean repaired less and less seems to work, like no camera to be viewed in your flat, no automatic door opening sensors etc, which is probably god knows how many times a year, but I suppose this is good economic sense or economic growth or something like that, to pay a company over and over so many times a year to come and Sellotape and blue tack together the system.

[Kate]

I'm just trying to point out that airing the security flaws in our estate on an online forum isn't the best way to reduce burglaries. Yes, it is rubbish if the estate office doesn't respond to faults in the building.

[15 storeys high]

City of London Police Annual Report 2012-2013

Burglary-Dweling -Reports     27

Burglary-Dweling-Detections   0

[Maria Elizabeth Prior]

There are certainly 'security flaws' on our Estate, and I thought that only residents, and those working for the estate could see this forum, and certainly not the local burglar.  And, I have lived here for 22 years.  I do sometimes wonder what exactly our service charges cover!

[Kate]

I mean it's a while ago now but when I signed up to the forum, all I had to do was give my name and address. Wouldn't be that difficult if someone wanted to access it? I didn't actually live on the estate when I first joined - it was a few months before I secured a flat here. Forgive me if I'm wrong - I'm just erring on the side of caution! Also, obviously no one would want this to happen, but as the police so often admit, the people that give valuable information making it easier for burglaries to happen (wittingly or unwittingly) are often living on the street/ from the community itself. Just thought that an online forum wasn't the best place to name specific break-in points! In-person community meetings may be better?

[Maria Elizabeth Prior]

Hi Katee. In that case  I must be mistaken then when I thought that only residents of this Estate, and those that worked on it, were able to join this site.  I hope that the Admin will clarify the situation.  Otherwise, if it is that easy for anyone to join then, regardless of where they live, then I am a bit concerned to hear that.  I was led to believe that this forum was for the interests of Golden Lane Estate, so why would anyone not associated with it want to, or be allowed to join?  Am confused now.

Katee said:

I mean it's a while ago now but when I signed up to the forum, all I had to do was give my name and address. Wouldn't be that difficult if someone wanted to access it? I didn't actually live on the estate when I first joined - it was a few months before I secured a flat here. Forgive me if I'm wrong - I'm just erring on the side of caution! Also, obviously no one would want this to happen, but as the police so often admit, the people that give valuable information making it easier for burglaries to happen (wittingly or unwittingly) are often living on the street/ from the community itself. Just thought that an online forum wasn't the best place to name specific break-in points! In-person community meetings may be better?

[Daniel Elson]

The reply identifying the specific security risk has been removed. Information on site membership can be found in the 'small print' on the right hand side of the desktop version of the website.

[Steve Daszko]

I thought that anyone could in fact join this site?  When I joined Barbican Talk, all I had to do was give an email address and location/postcode, if I remember correctly?   Perhaps restrictions/safeguards should be put in place???