Residents concerned sleepy west London neighbourhood has become crime hotspot

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

A sleepy neighbourhood has become a hotspot for cars to get broken into and packages stolen from front doors.

Eel Brook Common in Fulham has everything you need to raise a family: Green open spaces, quiet backstreets, a cluster of schools and nurseries in walking distance, and a lively high street for your weekend treats.

But this neighbourhood in a well-to-do area has become a target for vehicle break-ins and vandals. Residents on Crondace Road said they’ve seen cars broken into or keyed.

Sacha Steyn, 35, a resident, said she witnessed two cars being broken into in a matter of weeks, with one right outside her home. “I was shocked because it happened here on my doorstep,” she said.

Nafisa from Peters & Falla Dry Cleaners, which has running for 40 years, claimed she saw a car being broken into right in front of her eyes in broad daylight.

She said it happened while working at the shop in New Kings Road and saw someone across the road try to break the car windshield and boot.

She also claimed thieves loiter around, waiting for Amazon packages to steal. Nafisa claimed she saw someone scouting out a package left outside a neighbouring business, and had to collect it to ensure it didn’t go missing.

The worker also said Peters & Falla had been broken into four years ago when thieves broke her glass door and turned the shop upside down.

Nafisa said: “I always see people stealing packages from outside doors”.

But it’s not all bad, residents and business owners said.

A worker from Pippa Pop-ins nursery said the team regularly bring youngsters to play in the park and have never experience any problems.

George Theo, 23, has lived in the area for a couple of months and said apart from people smoking cannabis, he felt safe in the area and has no problems wondering through the common at night.

The Australian sports teacher said: “There is a lot of weed smoking. Plenty of blokes parked up on those bench seats smoking weed. But other than that it is a safe place.”

Baby-sitter Katie echoed those sentiments saying she’s never seen or heard of troubles in the park.

Mohammed, who lives on an estate in Favart Road, said his family has never experienced any major crimes in the area. He said kids usually gather in the park and get up to mischief, but that was all.

But mum and daughter duo Alison, 53, and Stevie, 28, disagreed. Stevie, who is temporarily staying with her mum on the estate with her nine-year-old son, claimed to have seen thieves steal motorbikes in the dead of the night and make off in vans.

They said thieves have regularly targeted the estate. Alison claimed she and her grandson recently witnessed a gang beat-up someone on the ground in Harwood Street.

“I was shocked and wanted to come home,” Alison said.

Hammersmith and Fulham council has Law Enforcement Team (LET) to help keep residents and visitors safe.

The LET was created in April 2021 and consists of 72 uniformed staff who patrol streets across the borough 24/7 and act as “the eyes and ears” for the council.

A council spokesman said: “The number one priority of our law enforcement team is to help keep Hammersmith and Fulham’s residents and visitors safe.

“Our officers work closely with the Met and have a broad range of powers to help drive down environmental crime and antisocial behaviour.

“Our LET can increase its patrols in areas where residents report problems. Residents near Eel Brook Common can report issues to their local team by emailing  parsonsgreensandford_southwards@lbhf.gov.uk or calling 020 8753 1100.”

The Met were contacted for comment.

Pictured top: Sacha Steyn, 35, claims she saw two cars broken into near her home (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)