Sean Singleton after his parcel shelf was stolen

A “CAR crime epidemic” has hit Camden Square and residents say the police are not acting quickly enough.

The New Journal reported a few weeks ago that a serial car scratcher had scored 20 vehicles overnight, in two sittings, across Camden Mews and Camden Square. No arrests have been made so far, the Met police said.

Residents hoped the vandalism wave was over, but now a new crime has hit.

A thief has smashed the rear window of the same electric car twice in a few days.

The first incident happened in Camden Mews around September 16 and a charging cable, worth £120, and a parcel shelf was stolen.

Sean Singleton, 59, told the New Journal: “I went to my car. It’s an electric car less than 12 months old. I normally have the charger hidden away under the seat but this time I put it in the boot.

“The one time I left it there I came back and the whole back screen window was smashed and they had stolen a charging cable and the parcel shelf, which go for around £80 on eBay.”

After he had replaced the rear window using his insurance, it was then smashed again in North Villas near the Lord Stanley pub a few days later on September 23.

Thieves can quickly sell parcel shelves

Mr Singleton said: “I used to park my old car on Camden Road but it used to get so many dents on it so I put it on a quieter street for safety ironically. I parked near the Lord Stanley where I thought it would be safe and I went to check and the back window was smashed again. The first time you’re angry the second time you’re shocked; it’s out of control.

SEE ALSO: THIEVES WANT TO STEAL YOUR PARCEL SHELF

“I’m a Londoner born and bred and people always say London is lawless and I’ve never thought that. Suddenly when it’s car crime or phone crime it’s out of control and no one seems bothered “I’ve got a car with no windscreen and a bit of cardboard so it’s totally exposed and I’m thinking I could pay for it to get fixed but then it could happen again. I’m going to put a sign in the car saying ‘there’s nothing of value in here’.

“My belief this is one person responsible for probably 100 per cent of this car crime epidemic and we don’t need Sherlock Holmes to solve it, just little bit of effort from the police could solve the issue pretty quickly. He posted about his experience on Nextdoor and other people in Camden Mews and Cliff Road said they have had the same thing happen to them.

Police were offered the chance to provide reassurance to our readers but did not respond to queries from the New Journal.