Drizzt
April 29, 2003, 12:55 AM
Stop thugs with tape
By ANDREW PARKER
TERRIFIED old folk who asked police for protection against stone-throwing yobs were told: “Tape your windows so you won’t be hurt by flying glass.”
Instead of vowing to catch the thugs, cops gave people tips on defending their homes at a Neighbourhood Watch meeting.
Inspector Mark Thomas urged them to criss-cross windows with tape.
Retired decorator George Tibetts, 70, said last night: “I just couldn’t believe my ears. It was as if he was saying the police can’t stop the yobs so put up the barricades and take cover. It’s ludicrous.
“I grew up in World War Two and remember taped-up windows and bombers. But what we want now is more beat bobbies to sort out these yobs, not sticky tape.”
George, a spokesman for 40 old people at a bungalow complex at Wordsley, West Midlands, has fitted CCTV cameras, lights, AND taped his windows as an extra precaution.
He added: “I’m one of the lucky ones whose windows have been hit by stones but not broken. My neighbours have had a lot of windows smashed and one even had part of a car drive shaft hurled into the lounge.”
Police admitted the advice was “perhaps a little drastic”. A spokeswoman added: “People should keep an eye on each other’s properties.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003191010,00.html
http://images.thesun.co.uk/picture/0,,2003190542,00.gif
'I just knew my old World War Two
stuff would come in handy'
By ANDREW PARKER
TERRIFIED old folk who asked police for protection against stone-throwing yobs were told: “Tape your windows so you won’t be hurt by flying glass.”
Instead of vowing to catch the thugs, cops gave people tips on defending their homes at a Neighbourhood Watch meeting.
Inspector Mark Thomas urged them to criss-cross windows with tape.
Retired decorator George Tibetts, 70, said last night: “I just couldn’t believe my ears. It was as if he was saying the police can’t stop the yobs so put up the barricades and take cover. It’s ludicrous.
“I grew up in World War Two and remember taped-up windows and bombers. But what we want now is more beat bobbies to sort out these yobs, not sticky tape.”
George, a spokesman for 40 old people at a bungalow complex at Wordsley, West Midlands, has fitted CCTV cameras, lights, AND taped his windows as an extra precaution.
He added: “I’m one of the lucky ones whose windows have been hit by stones but not broken. My neighbours have had a lot of windows smashed and one even had part of a car drive shaft hurled into the lounge.”
Police admitted the advice was “perhaps a little drastic”. A spokeswoman added: “People should keep an eye on each other’s properties.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003191010,00.html
http://images.thesun.co.uk/picture/0,,2003190542,00.gif
'I just knew my old World War Two
stuff would come in handy'