Kid on bike targeting people in Dulwich

[Rockets]

He is probably long gone now but there was a boy on a bike in a black Trapstar jacket with his hood up and wearing a balaclava targeting people for their phones at lunchtime today. I had seen the same guy near Kings about 45 minutes earlier so he is obviously doing circuits on the look-out for phones. I could see he was sizing up a woman on her phone pushing her pram walking along Townley and managed to call out to her which put him off.

 

[bels123]

Please report to the police if you haven’t already. If you see a crime in progress / about to happen it would be a 999 call.

If reporting after the fact, online or 101.

Edited May 12, 2023 by bels123

[foggynervosa]

Sad to say I think I saw this guy make his getaway about 90mins ago. He swooped past me on the Dutch Estate, followed 20 seconds later by a woman who had presumably had her phone snatched.. possibly at 42/37 bus stop on junction of EDG & Townley.

[Rockets]

Please everyone pass the word to friends and family to keep their wits about them. Be wary of any kids on black bikes dressed head to toe in black with big jackets with hoods up and face covering - it's the uniform of muggers; they all dress the same and ride the same bikes as it becomes almost impossible for police to identify them.

 

And do not make yourself a target by wandering around with your phone out - it's rich pickings around here due to the number of people who chat on the/stare at their phone whilst wandering down the street and they target the area because they know people have expensive phones (iPhones in particular).

[Nigello]

Please do report it. It helps the police build up a case/report. 

[Rockets]

Unfortunately there has been a spate of muggings of Charter North kids in the vicinity of the school as the kids leave for the day.

[march46]

Were they on bikes?

[Rockets]

I believe so yes - I only heard about it from a friend who has a child at the school - they have always had a problem but apparently it has got particularly bad. It seems bikes are the chosen mode of transport for muggers nowadays; they can cover a large area, approach people quickly and quietly, maintain the element of surprise, strike and then make a quick escape with little chance of being caught.

 

 

 

[Tim Edwards]

Today, 20th June, at ~20.15 I witnessed a mid 20's Spanish girl being assaulted on E Dulwich Road, by Goose Green, where she had been speaking to her mother and had her mobile phone stolen. The assailant in his late teens / early 20's black man dressed in black and with a balaclava, escaped up Spurling Road past the East Dulwich tavern on a black bike. This is not the first time this has happened, as can be seen from this thread, though upon reporting the crime to the police they said there is noting they can do unless and until the victim reports the crime. 

Ridiculous! Clearly this idiot needs apprehending and given a good seeing to.

[Julia B.]

Hi! I talked to the police and reported it, they came into my house yesterday to take more details regarding the thief. I don't want to give much details online, but policeman told me not to use my phone out around Peckham area and London Bridge specifically, thank you Tim for helping me, I was (and still am, two days later) shocked about what happened, I live in the area and I can't believe how unsafe I feel at the moment.

Edited June 22, 2023 by Julia B.

[Otto2]

Sending good vibes to you. The whole balaclava get-up adds to the unease. I hope time brings you back to a better feeling.  I no longer check mine when out and about and sometimes do not even bring it. If I need to now -  I step into a shop before using it - everywhere in London - not just around here.

I feel like the police regard it as a nothing crime - like littering perhaps. That attitude has made the problem grow exponentially.  

[NewWave]

I spotted the assailant cycling down Crystal Palace road near the gym on Tuesday early afternoon...

He was cycling down the middle of the road kind of looking around rather than at the road..

I saw him look my way and sort of slow down so I swapped my shoulder bag to the side away from the road and stared at him and he cycled off...He seems to be working alone as opposed to part of a gang and I only noticed him because he was in head to toe black with hood and balaclava on a really hot day riding a black quite slim looking bike.

I guess he just cycles round looking for victims.

[DGM-1986]

So sad people can no longer walk around with phone or a watch on etc and being constantly on edge in London , I do fill there needs to be more stop and search and pro active policing but I know this is so hard for police to do now days!

 

[alice]

It’s the summer there’s loads of kids around, some have bikes, some walk, some use the gifted lime bikes, there’s literally hundreds if not thousands of boys in that age group who live around here. I would not like to be one right now. 

[NewWave]

12 hours ago, DGM-1986 said:

So sad people can no longer walk around with phone or a watch on etc and being constantly on edge in London , I do fill there needs to be more stop and search and pro active policing but I know this is so hard for police to do now days!

 

I dont think stop and search is the answer.

But I do believe a police presence on the street and local 'police offices' (like they have in Japan..a booth where locals can go to voice any concerns or report a crime ) making use of empty shops would certainly help to keep crime down

When I lived in Westminster in an area with a large amount of street crime once they introduced local community support officers that would walk the streets the muggings and graffiti decreased and we all felt much safer especially as it was the same officers you saw daily and got to know it was reassuring having them around.

[Pugwash]

Southwark many years a go, appointed community support workers who usually worked in pairs and were very visible in the area. Cannot remember why Southwark got rid of them - they were employed directly by the council.

[Nigello]

Southwark could blitz areas that either could cause people to feel insecure and criminals to capitalise on that feeling, like badly lit areas or streets with litter and vandalism. I get that an area doesn’t cause crime -  people commit crime - but a holistic approach helps. 

[vladi]

21 hours ago, Pugwash said:

Southwark many years a go, appointed community support workers who usually worked in pairs and were very visible in the area. Cannot remember why Southwark got rid of them - they were employed directly by the council.

Did think it might be  that it might have  down to a mater of cost effectiveness.

[DGM-1986]

Sometimes when is a stereotype not a stereotype, police need to get out there and stop kids on balaclavas and bikes.

where did this mentality of the youth come from where they think they can just go round robbing and intimidating people.

times are getting worse and you can say they are not till it happens to you!

[malumbu]

I am a bit worried as you are suggesting that the police should be stopping children, and that the police should be doing this riding bikes, and that the police should also be wearing balaclavas.  If I was a police officer I may object as it is rather hot to be wearing balaclavas at this time of the year.  I'm not sure if there are enough police to be stopping all the children.  And there would also be a shortage of bikes.  Apart from these issues it sounds a great idea.  

[DGM-1986]

Typical grown up dulwich answer 😂

The kids that seem to be doing this all look the same is what I am saying!

police should be out stopping kids wearing balaclavas on bikes

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

On 23/06/2023 at 23:56, Pugwash said:

Cannot remember why Southwark got rid of them - they were employed directly by the council.

Maybe a decade + of austerity imposed by Tory central government? Don't worry, though, we're all in this together.

 

[Rockets]

If you see any kids on black bikes, dressed top to toe in black and wearing either a balaclava or mask then treat them with suspicion. When my wife had her phone stolen by one such kid the police said they all wear identical outfits and ride identical bikes so it makes identification very difficult if they are ever caught.

[Rockets]

Saw someone again today on Townley at lunchtime with mask and hoodie up circling around Townley - he cycled down Townley from Lordship Lane they turned into Dovercourt and then immediately turned round and went back the way he came to Lordship Lane. My son reckons they are back as it is half-term and they know a lot of kids are out and about using their phones.

 

Be careful everyone and warn your kids not to have their phones out when they walk along the street.

[Froglander]

What a way to have to live.