OMG awful 

I'm so sorry you and your children had to experience that ! Thank you for sharing this useful advice x

hello to all, I'm new in this chat. my family and I moved in July. I happened casually reading the testimony of Anabel. Today at 3:30 pm two men completely covered by their helmets have approached our car gor 2 times but fortunately, the second time my husband has had time to close the door.This thing has worried us and I started doing research on this situation. We were on Bennerley Road. Tomorrow I would like to report this to the police, can you tell me where ever I could write? I'm sorry to read the testimonials like that one (Anabel) I have a daughter and I do not feel safe anymore.
Thank you and I hope to receive some indication from you.
Regards

Well said Tommy. It reminds me of when Liz Hurley's nephew was almost fatally stabbed in the borough earlier in the year and the only CCTV the police released of the suspects was a blurred picture of a car with the number plate blurred out even more. Still no arrests 6 months on and with an appeal as weak as that it seems they aren't even interested in catching them.

On 31st July I was walking at lunch time near to Screwfix on York Road SW11.

I had my phone in my hand when felt that someone had a go at grabbing it and it was a guy from a moped.

Luckily for me I had a good grip of it and kept my phone with me, but it was a dangerous move as they turn around seemingly with the intention to hurt me.

I was in luck as the Screwfix was full of tradies and I quickly sought refuge between them.

The moped sped up and it happens they triggered the speed camera in York road.

I called the police and gave them the license plate and described how the got caught in the speed trap and a photo would be available plus video from the Screwfix cctv and witnesses.

It was very disappointing to receive a letter 2 weeks later saying they had to close the case because not enough information was available.

One of the guys that works in Screwfix told me I shouldn’t walk with my phone in my hand in that area, which indicated this is a hot area for this.

I really wish more was done around it.

Guys, this link is starting to do the rounds. Its a chance for us to tell the Met about how we feel about what is happening and get something done. Please choose the "moped enable theft and robbery"  - the numbers are going up rapidly as its been posted on next door and is gaining some traction whereas in previous months it has had zero participation.
https://www.met.police.uk/a/your-area/m ... northcote/

I'm sooo sorry you had this very traumatic experience. It must have been even worse for you worrying about the impact on your children. I run The Parent Practice in Balham and I wondered if you would like a complimentary call to chat through how to help your kids deal with the trauma - we'd be glad to help. We're a local organisation and very concerned that this sort of thing is happening on our doorstep.

Private police forcing is a great idea for keeping your own and immediate surrounding streets safe but we could get mugged anywhere in SW London now. It would definitely help keep your mopeds and cars from being stolen and your houses from being burgled, but unless it is taken up on a massive scale, its not going to stop me getting mugged on any street walking home from the Tube each evening or a mum walking across the common with her kids? We still need to write to the powers that be if we want to help make change.

Just wanted to add support to the original OP and hope that he and the children will recover from such a horrendous experience as soon as possible. I was walking past there today and thinking what an unlikely place for something like that to happen and situation seems to be getting worse, reading other's experiences on this site alone. Well done to him for posting the grounded advice he did too - I will be taking up his suggestions on writing to the relevant bodies - the more people who do this the more possibility that (any) change will be undertaken.

Best wishes to you OP.
 

Complaining on the internet about party politics and police priorities/budgets is just venting that will get you nowhere.

As someone said, maybe it's time to take action and fund a private police force to patrol the streets rather than leave our security in the hands of government entities that are trying to solve much bigger issues than our local ones. Granted there will be massive free rider issues but there must be decent number of families that have the disposable income to make this happen round here. My local Bobby is one such service.

The issue we have is just a few months ago, the government were still denying that police cuts have anything to do with rising crime numbers, despite leaked reports from the Home Office saying it does, and despite Sadiq publicly saying so. So the people in charge dont actually think we need more police on the streets which to you, me and everyone else is rubbish. Meanwhile these louts are cruising our streets terrorising left right and centre, knowing they can get away with it. Paying more council tax is not going to fix it - the more council tax we pay, the less "grant" we receive from central government to police our area and the end sum is still the same. I totally agree with the OP that we need to all start emailing, Facebooking and tweeting our outrage to Marsha De Cordova and Sadiq. They're not government but they are our representatives and we need to help them fight the powers that be. 

Awful experience!

But thanks for sharing the lessons learnt...

...also good to know that they sometimes attack when they are on their own (I previously thought it was only when they had a pillion or anther thug on a moped as back up)

They must have cleverly corned you if they could hold the moped up and brandish a knife at the same time...were you cornered and unable to run away or just mortified by the shock of it?
 

Tks for sharing. Hope you and your children are able to recover.

Unfortunately it might be time for a private security team to operate in the area. The government/police can’t manage it right now.

I’m of the opinion there maybe sufficient local residential interest. One to explore

Thank you for sharing your awful experience. I appreciate you letting us all know.

One practical item to have with you is Farb Gel - a legal alternative to pepper spray - which disarms the attacker to a few vital seconds by spraying them with red colour. It may help keep your valuables. Buy it online.

Beancounter - yes, it's always someone else's responsibility ……...