[Madhatter]

"But if you are worried I will call round to any genuine persons home and explain for free"

I'll take you up on that offer Simon, when you coming down?.

Seriously I wish you'd explain. Have you got a link to the article?

I had to sort out the lock fitted to the old dears door down stairs, she got robbed, the police called age concern, who came out and looked at her door, and yes she needed a new latch and a mortise fitting, as the council latch could be pushed back with anything. She waited and waited and eventually she phoned only to get told that they were waiting for her!. In the mean time the council decided to fit new kitchens, propping the security ( lol) door open, and leaving her front door open. I came in one day to find her sitting there with both doors open and the workmen gone, they'd gone and not told her they'd left. Anyway age concern come and fit a new mortise, and latch, but the latch wont deadlock from outside, the key turns but the key wont come out. I had to sort it. my point being that old people still aren’t treated right even when they're robbed and ask for help.

Last week, my van got keyed along with 6 other vehicles Inc a Porsche and a range rover, not just keyed- but keyed Z. one was zigzagged all the way across the bonnet twice down the side and across the boot on two consecutive nights.
not helped by only two street lights being in the street. I’ve got six son floods i could put up on the blocks but the council won’t let me. So again the council is blocking sensible security.

If I’m outside and I see them I have to get to a land line in one of the flats to call the police because on the mobile I get routed to Birmingham who tell me to call the local police on the local number and wait in the Q.

What we need is a whipping post in the middle of town, so when they get caught they can be publicly whipped, then perhaps it will frighten the others out of doing it.