Finchley Road shopkeepers’ community stand against thieves
Shopkeepers and police are channelling “old fashioned community spirit” to take a stand against thieves who have cost businesses thousands of pounds.
Small boutiques and chain stores in Temple Fortune have proved a fertile hunting ground for thieves in the last few years, with criminals recently involved in stealing air conditioning units costing up to �7,000.
But new bobby-on-the-beat PCSO George Gibbons has rallied old fashioned community spirit and supported shopkeepers to set up a business watch scheme along Finchley Road to tackle the problem.
Dr Bill Jones, of Larizia luxury shoe and handbag shop, who is co-ordinator of the business watch scheme, said: “After all this pilfering and petty crime we decided enough is enough.
“When the police came on board we decided to get everyone in the village together and keep and eye out for each other.”
Larizia has had three ram-raid attacks and thieves persistently steal designer items worth up to �600.
Dr Jones stumped up the cash for some stickers and around 50 businesses along the shopping thoroughfare have opted into the scheme.
Most Read
- 1 Walking book club: Hampstead Heath, Death and The Penguin
- 2 Hampstead Town's first Labour councillor stands down weeks into office
- 3 Highgate pub landlords to appeal restrictive licence approval
- 4 Major tube strike to follow Queen's Platinum Jubilee long weekend
- 5 Five jailed after 'cold blooded' murder of Enfield father
- 6 Olympic ace opens Highgate primary school's new running track
- 7 Calls for removal of South End Green phone box
- 8 Campaign launched after girl suffers fractured ribs from e-scooter crash
- 9 5 of the best things to do with kids in north London
- 10 Belsize Village restaurant hires young Ukrainian refugee
PSCO Gibbons, who spearheaded the idea, said: “Compared to what it was like a few months ago, we’re getting a lot of positive feedback. There was a perception that the police might not be dealing with incidents, but it’s all very quiet down here now.”