Terrified locals say LTNs have turned their street into a ‘one-lane motorway’ ravaged by crime where pensioners have been forced to arm themselves with baseball bats wrapped in barbed wire to fight off burglars.
People living on Enfield’s Dawlish Avenue – where properties have an average price of £800k – say that since two Low Traffic Neighbourhoods were erected on neighbouring streets, their road has become a dangerous ‘rat run’.
While many residents say they are now too scared to leave their homes at night due to drug dealing and the threat of being mugged.
Others say they have had their cars broken into and stolen off their driveways while they unpacked their shopping and that despite decking out their homes with CCTV and even barbed wire fences – no amount of home security can solve the problem.
Locals in Enfield say that two LTN’s have contributed to their street becoming a ‘rat run’ and crime hot spot (pictured, one of the LTNs)
Some residents say they are terrified of living in their own homes due to the threat of violent burglary and car theft
Residents have gone to extreme measures to protect their property
David Moody was forced to repel a home invasion with his bare hands
So regular is the crime on Dawlish Avenue, residents now use WhatsApp groups as an instantaneous neighbourhood watch.
Speaking to the MailOnline, one resident who wished to remain anonymous, revealed: ‘We track who’s been hit or who’s had their car broken into or stolen.
‘So far we’ve escaped it, but we know it’s just a matter of time.’
One couple who have experienced the terror of a home invasion at close quarters are David Moody and his partner Jan West.
In November, the couple were enjoying a quiet Sunday evening in, as they had done happily for the last twenty years, when they heard a scraping at the door.
David explained: ‘It can be scary, it was when they tried to break in here as me and my partner were inside the house.
‘It was dark and we had the curtains drawn, I hadn’t put the latch on and we hear this noise. I went out in the hall and saw someone coming through the front door.
‘I ran at them and they all ran away. As I came out I saw three of them running down the road wearing masks.’
The couple’s terrifying escape is indicative of the road’s volatile nature and David reveals it’s as bad as it has ever been
He continued: ‘It’s always been a bad area – but it’s gotten worse recently.
‘This road is a through road, people walk up and down it, and they scope out places.
‘It’s the general area that’s bad.
‘People have got cameras but that doesn’t stop them whatsoever. A lady down the road is full security cameras.
‘[But] It was a Saturday and somebody walked up and stole their car off the driveway while she was in the house.
The beginning of our of the LTNs at Fox Lane in Enfield that locals in neighbouring Dawlish Avenue say has had a negative impact on their lives
Many residents have invested in top of the range home security systems to ward off burglars
Others have covered up their cars and used steering wheel locks to protect themselves
Residents say the road is used as a through-route for speeding cars
‘It’s so regular you just get used to it. Other people have had their cars stolen while they’ve been taking in their shopping in.’
Located a stone’s throw from the permanently congested North Circular, some residents say the speeding issues on the avenue have come as a knock-on effect of the two LTNs installed in nearby Fox Lane and Bowes Park.
There are some on the road who believe that traffic and crime on the road has got worse since since the introduction of these LTN’s.
Resident Maryam Najand told the Enfield Independent: ‘The wealthy properties are all now part of LTNs and they have beautiful quiet neighbourhoods. Whereas Dawlish is basically a one-lane motorway.
‘We have hundreds of videos showing trucks reversing because they can’t get around the bend.
‘The council has said unless there’s a serious incident, pertaining to a death perhaps, then no measures will be imposed.’
Fevzi Hussein wants extra police patrols and new speed limit signs in the area, he said: ‘It’s a situation where enough is enough now, and people are genuinely concerned for their safety.’
One resident, who gave his name as Jason, told MailOnline that the road has become a deathtrap with speeding a regular occurrence.
He explained: ‘We haven’t personally been impacted by thefts but our wall was destroyed after a stolen car running from police smashed into it.
‘My neighbours have had their car stolen twice. The road has become a cut through, the speeds people get up to on it are dangerous.
‘We want the road to be closed so it can’t be used as a rat run – but that could make it quieter and then exacerbate the risk of burglaries.
‘Most people now use old fashioned steering locks as they can’t be hacked into.’
Some residents say the speeding issues on the avenue have come as a ‘knock on effect’ of the two LTNs installed in nearby Fox Lane and Bowes Park
Residents say the conditions on the road are now a deathtrap due to speeding and crashing cars
Many of the residents living along Dawlish Avenue are young families and professionals who have come to view the area’s crime wave as indicative of a wider London malaise.
Parents watch from their windows as ‘blatant drug dealing’ takes place and children are kept inside due to the dangers of the road.
For the Avenue’s older population however, their retirement has been mired by a fear of their local area and an overbearing sense of hopelessness at the situation.
One elderly resident who chose to remain anonymous told MailOnline she keeps a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire by her door as a last wave of defence.
She revealed: ‘I’ve had two cars broken into – police just sent me a notification saying they wouldn’t investigate.
‘People have crashed into my wall after they come off the road like a bat out of hell. There’s drug dealing going on all the time along the road.
‘We’ve sent evidence to the councillors, we ‘ve spoken to our MP, it’s hopeless. We have to do our own security here, I have multiple alarms but nobody is truly safe.
‘The LTNs have brought more cars here. I’ve lived here almost twenty years and I’ve only seen police walk down the road once.’
However, the Metropolitan Police claimed that reports of anti-social behaviour had reduced in the area over the past year.
A spokesperson said: ‘Protecting Londoners and tackling crimes is at the heart of what we do.
‘Our local policing presence in Arnos Grove has resulted in a 41% reduction in calls about anti-social behaviour in the area over the past year, however it’s clear residents are concerned and want us to be doing more.
‘Our New Met for London plan sets how we will cut crime, rebuild trust and restore our bond with communities.
‘We’ll put more officers and Police Community Support Officers into local neighbourhoods and make sure they’re delivering against the priorities of Londoners.’
