Youths climbing onto rooftops and causing misery for town's businesses. THREATS TO WORKERS WHO OPEN SHOPS TO THE 'STINK OF URINE'.
Byline: RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU [email protected]URINE soaking into shops, bricks thrown at cars, cigarettes stolen and even knife threats - these are just some of the incidents businesses on a Nottinghamshire town's main shopping street have to endure.
Workers have spoken out about their worries after Nottinghamshire Police issued a stark warning following a spate of incidents involving groups of children climbing roofs in West Bridgford.
Despite the town being named as one of the top 50 most affluent places in the UK, the number of worrying incidents is on the rise, with more than 20 reported to the police, including break-ins, with one teenager arrested.
Businesses on Bridgford Road and Central Avenue have been particularly affected, with things getting worse during the school holidays. But Fotomargo, on Bridgford Road, has been experiencing incidents for the past five years, day and night.
"They're constantly on the roof, they destroyed a lot of it and we constantly have floods now. They've been on the garages and pushed them through the roofs and they have asbestos. The damage is worth thousands.
"They constantly break things and we've been threatened we'll have our throats slashed and have bricks thrown at our cars," said a spokesperson for one business, who wished to keep their identity private for safety reasons.
They things and threatened our throats
The staff member explained two nearby businesses on Central Avenue have reportedly had so many teenagers urinate on their roofs, the urine had started soaking into the shop.
They said: "Every morning, the shops just stink of urine and they got industrial cleaners to clean the roofs."
All the incidents have under- standably sparked fear amongst staff members.
"It's all kids, it makes you wonder what their parents are doing. One jumped off the garage and when they did so, a knife fell on the floor.
constantly break we've been we'll have slashed. Anonymous "A few years ago when we caught some lads, all kids, who were on the roof every night smoking and drinking, it led to threats so our boss said 'that's it, you don't get involved.
"You just lock the door and let them get on with it'. That's what it's become," the staff member added.
They also explained that the perpetrators usually wear hoodies and balaclavas, despite a lot of incidents taking place during the summer. They said: "It's not illegal to use barb wire or glass or electric fencing, but if they get hurt, we're liable."
Cote, a brasserie on Central Avenue, is another business which has been blighted by similar incidents. A spokesperson has explained they have also noticed a rise in issues over the summer months, when belongings were stolen from a staff room.
They said: "They were just climbing through the window but they weren't taking a lot of things so that they could keep coming back. They were taking cigarettes, money and they were going though people's bags.
"One day, a staff member caught one of them doing that and they just ran off with the whole bag. That's when we got the police involved. It's a nuisance."
Staff at Escabeche, in Bridgford Road, added they have been experiencing issues with teens climbing their roof over the summer. Residents have also expressed their concerns following the police warning.
One resident, who wished to keep her identity private, said: "It just seems to be getting worse and worse. It's the parents' responsibility to know what their children are doing and educate them. If they have knives, that's when it gets really scary."
Resident Jenny Jones, 32, said she was warned not to leave her bike in a shed "because they'll get stolen" before she moved to the area. She said: "Even though West Bridgford is a nice, affluent area, we still get crime.
"I think teenagers are a bit bored because all access to support services has been cut and underfunded so there's nowhere for them to go, enjoy themselves and be kids in a safe place. They're resulting to more destructive behaviours because there's nothing for them to do. Hearing of incidents like that is pretty intense."
Another resident added: "Everywhere is getting worse and worse. Parents are to blame because they should educate their children and keep track of their whereabouts and ensure that they don't engage in any activity of this kind."
A total of 11 incidents were reported in August, seven in September and five in October. A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage during one recent incident.
PC Matt Holden, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We are concerned that these young people are risking serious injury or worse every time they trespass in this way. We have seen groups of up to 20 young people on rooftops during recent incidents and every one of them is in danger of harming themselves from a fall or other hazards.
"We also know this issue is costing businesses time and money to clean up after the vandalism and breakins. The neighbourhood team is working hard to find solutions to the problem and is already carrying out targeted high-visibility patrols, making use of stop and search powers, visiting the home addresses of those involved and other proactive steps.
"We are working with businesses and the council to ensure premises are as secure as possible. However, we are also asking for the help of the public. In particular, we'd ask parents to check where their children are during the evenings and make it clear to them about the risks involved.
"It is also important these young people understand they are committing offences by behaving in this way and we will deal robustly with those found to be involved." Anyone with any information about these incidents should contact police on 101.
They constantly break things and we've been threatened we'll have our throats slashed. the and led our 'that's it, their had the Anonymous
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| Author: | RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Nottingham Evening Post (Nottingham, England) |
| Date: | Dec 2, 2024 |
| Words: | 982 |
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