Burglars get leg up to flat

A SINGLE mother who was burgled claims her home was easy pickings because workmen left a ladder that thieves used to break into her second-floor flat.

Paula Miles, of Wetherden Street, Walthamstow, said Circle 33 Housing Trust contracted Higgins Development to carry out improvements on other flats in her block.

While she was out last Friday, she claims burglars shinned up the ladder and clambered on to scaffolding surrounding her flat. They broke in and stole £7,000 worth of property.

Now the terrifed mum says she is too scared to live in the flat after the burglars scrawled "Watch your back, we'll be back" on her bathroom door.

Ms Miles, 22, and her seven-year-old daughter, Jodie, are now living with a relative as she fears for her safety.

"I need to get out of here, I cannot live like this," she said.

The young mum said she came home from a night out to find her flat ransacked. She said: "My DVD player, mobile phone, Christmas presents I had bought for my daughter, and jewellery were taken. They even smashed some of my daughter's toys.

"Workmen left a ladder in the garden, now the ladder is gone. The garden gate was also taken off, which gives people easy access to the garden and rear of the property. The burglars must have used the ladder to get up on to the scaffolding."

Ms Miles said she contacted Higgins but said the company told her it could not help. She said: "I also contacted my housing trust, the Notting Hill Housing Trust, but she was told any compensation should come from Higgins. But Higgins said they couldn't help me," she said.

A spokeswoman for Circle 33 said: "While we have every sympathy for Ms Miles over the burglary at her home, it is for Higgins to investigate the allegations Ms Miles has made. We understand that Higgins has already suggested to Ms Miles that she should put her complaint in writing to its community development manager, who oversees resident liaison on all contracts.

"Higgins has strict procedures in relation to the security of sites, maintaining a clean and tidy site and restricting access to scaffolding from the ground. We would add that Circle 33 has worked with Higgins on a number of projects and found it to be a professional, competent contractor."

15:49 Monday 21st October 2002

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