Success Stories

• Rita Venturini
• Cathy Laine
• Paul Bond

In January, Rita Venturini , the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for her area was at home when she answered a knock at her front door. A man asked if she would like her trees cut, and when she said she would not like them cut he insisted that they need cutting and tried to persuade her.

Apparently, he had a business card in his hand, when Rita asked for one he did not give her a card. He stated that he lives in the area but Rita being a NHW co-ordinator knows most people in the area and she did not recognise him. When she asked him where about's he lived he said that it's not her business. At this stage Rita stated that she is going to call the police. The man then backed off and went to his white transit van. When he saw Rita holding a phone he speeded off towards the main road.

Rita said that he looked professional, especially wearing a green body warmer but she strongly believes that he was a distraction burglar. His behaviour when confronted seemed to strongly confirm that belief.Well done Rita.

In September, Rita Venturini jumped into action again. One Saturday night at around 0100 hours Rita heard some voices outside in her road and decided to look out from her top bedroom window.

Upon looking she noticed three men wandering around the road looking at residents vehicles and over their garden fences. The men were paying close attention to her neighbour's car and then decided to look around at the vehicles parked at Birdbrook Close.

Rita heard one of the men say 'Well, are we going to do it or not'. After hearing what was said she decided to come downstairs into her living room and switched the light on. The men then decided to move on.

She also mentioned the men were possibly carrying knives. They were joking around and pointing something sharp at each other.

Even at that time of the morning Rita thought to do the right thing. Just simply switching her light on was enough to alert the men that someone may be aware of their wrong doings, and this form of action kept her safe.

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In October, Cathy Laine, a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator in Mark's Gate received information from worried elderly residents in Padnall Road that a young woman described only as young with dark hair had been calling on the OAP flats selling carpets. She was in a vehicle, which was black in colour and said to be like an old style Ford Zephyr. No index gained.

The Chadwell Heath Safer Neighbourhood Team was informed immediately and will be looking for this lady and her car.

Even though an arrest was not made, it goes to show how well the Neighbourhood Watch work with their local Safer Neighbourhood Teams. The carpetbaggers were not bagged this time. But well done.

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In February, Paul Bond who runs the Neighbourhhod Watch at Sunningdale Avenue, received a knock at his front door, and upon opening it he was greeted by a young black Nigerian Man who said to him that he lived a few doors down and he had just come home from hospital with his wife and first child, and the electric meter had run out. As he had no money could he lend him £10 till tomorrow?

Paul's response was that he did not know him, and no way was he going to lend him any money. He had only just shut the door to get his coat and go to see if the neighbour was OK when his front door bell rung again, and a neighbour from the other end of the road was there saying that he had just had a caller at his door with the same request for money.

Paul dialled the three 9's and a response was made very soon after. As the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, he had further calls telling him that it appears that Sunningdale Avenue was not the only target.

Since then, Paul has helped to set up a no cold caller zone in the area which has been very effective, This is a shining example of the positive effect having a watch can have on a neighbourhood. Well done Paul for all your hard work.