HANOVER HOUSE RESIDENTS' WEBLOG

BURGLARY

There was a burglary on the 13th floor on Saturday morning at 8.30am. A guest left, didn't lock the door. Three people were asleep and somebody opened the door and quickly made off with a laptop. Police called, St George alerted, CCTV may have results...

So be aware.

HELP KICK OUT THE VANDAL

You'll have noticed we've been periodically plagued by a vandal: scratched pictures of smiley faces and what not in-between the lift doors. It's ugly, costs money to fit, goes on our bill and did indicate some kids were getting into the building. 

Two neighbours reported today's graffiti to the concierge who have been comparing the times the graffiti appears with date stamped video footage.  The scary current theory is that it isn't kids but a resident.  They're therefore asking everybody to report times the vandal strikes so that they can catch them. You also need to report the times and anybody you see doing it to Notting Hill - they operate a zero tolerance policy on damaging property and we can the evict the errant tenant.

So, spot it, report it, help stop it.  We all love our home and it's horrible that this happens to us but working together we can stamp this kind of abuse out.  Let's not let one person bring us down to their level.

BE VIGILANT

Two young males were seen trying to tailgate into the building this morning. They were challenged but remained inthe area. Please keep an eye open and report anything suspicious to concierge who will check it out.

BURGLARY

We've had our first burglary.  Somebody on the tenth floor's house guest left their hosts' house keys in their letterbox.  They were burgled in-between them leaving their keys in the post box at 11am and 10pm tonight when they got home.

Clearly somebody's been checking our post boxes whilst we're out.  They got lucky in finding keys in a postbox with the door number on it.

Lesson number one learnt:  Do not leave keys in postboxes. 

Remember: our doors have mortice locks which are very secure.  Without the key, it's damned hard to get in.

So it's either someone from the complex who's fob accesses Hanover or someone following a resident in. 

Lesson number two learnt:   We must question everyone who follows us in to our entrance.  Throw out the rule book of good manners and avoiding awkward conversations.  It's not worth it.

Also we must pick up our post as often as possible (have a penpal if you want a reason to  check your mail).  We don't know what else they might have got from our post boxes.

We're still scant on the details.  Comments and information welcome.  At least now we'll know if that CCTV is working.... 

LATE NIGHT INTRUDERS

We've had a spate of people gaining entry to the building recently - mainly late evening and during the night.  A few people have had their doors knocked by strangers (they fortunately didn't answer) and a rough sleeper was even reported to the concierge - they're reviewing the CCTV tapes.

1. DO NOT BUZZ ANYBODY IN UNLESS YOU KNOW THEM.  IF IN DOUBT, RING CONCIERGE.
2. EXERCISE VIGILANCE WHEN ENTERING - IF SOMEBODY COMES IN BEHIND YOU THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, CHALLENGE THEM OR IF YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE DOING THAT, RING THE CONCIERGE.

If you don't want to wake up with a stranger or mad person in your bed (that you didn't invite there) we all need to follow the above rules. 

The good news is that the CCTV outside works and no known crimes have been reported.  It appears that after a long period of relative calm we're now on the map. 

SECURITY & SAFETY

Somebody dumped a large old Christmas tree yesterday.  It could have been quite funny but here's why it wasn't...

1. Serious and real fire hazard.  Christmas trees, especially old ones, are actually highly combustible.  All it would have taken was for some visiting idiot to throw a match at it for a laugh and we'd all have been be in serious trouble.

2. Access.  Whoever did it was preventing people using chairs and prams from getting in or out.  Worsened by the left hand lift only working some of the time right now.  That's unacceptable and really nasty.

3. Cost.  The collection of rubbish from communal areas counts as an extra charge - including shoe boxes.  Everything left is added to our bill and we all eventually have to pay. A new lift would be crippling for everybody. In the end, one of your neighbours put it out for you.

4. It's our home.  Please don't ruin it - we've got a nice one, let's make living together in it as easy going for everybody as possible.

If you do have problems putting your rubbish out, please, just ask for help - everybody's really nice and happy to help.  Otherwise, please think of others.

COMMENTS: When commenting... we've been reminded that some phrases are legally ambiguous, inflamatory and not terrificly nice. So, when posting a comment please avoid:  pikey,  chav, pig, sponger, slacker, freeloader, parasite, skid-row bum, leach, junkie, pr*ck, vagrant, cadger, vagabond, waistrel. deadbeat, Tory, pariah, sl*g, sl*t, (in fact anything requiring an asterix) etc etc.  Extremely generous and ok words may range from 'rushed' to 'inconsiderate'. 

All jokes aside, however it ended up in the lift, there may be a valid excuse - if you know, share with the group:)  After various bits of rubbish at the front door and mess in the lifts etc, a tree in the lift has turned out to be the final straw for most:(

If it was you and there's a vague Ealing Comedy farce reason, please tell all as it's a good excuse for a a pint - come on, give us that excuse:) 

POLICE APPEAL

CAN YOU HELP: Neil from Peverel has been in touch to say that a man has been arrested for deception - one of those door to door con men possibly.  Whilst they've got CCTV footage, the police need statements from residents who may have been approached by the accused.

If you think you may have useful info, I have a form you can fill out and return to the police.  It will help them get their conviction.

To get a copy, just email me with your letterbox number and I'll pop one in.

LADY ON THE ROOF

Ref Lucy's posting (find it under 'comments'): I emailed Neil at Peverel asking him if he could tell us anything about the lady that got on the roof and caused damage last night.

He quickly responded saying "The only information I can give you is that the lady was a resident of St George Wharf, and access had been gained via her apartment."

As far as we know she's physically OK and didn't fall.  No word on repairs yet but probably planned. 

SECURITY AND BIKE THEFT UPDATE

(Thanks to Chris C for taking immediate action on this)

First and foremost, if your bike is in a shed (especially 2, 3, 4 and 5) we've been advised to move them ASAP to outside the Parking Partners office.  This is because (a) they've been broken into (at 0430hrs this morning by one guy described only as black, hooded) and two bikes stolen, (b) you can now access them all easily, (c) the 'in' shutter has been condemned and won't be replaced for weeks (d) there's nobody actually officially looking after the sheds - they're in a grey land re security whilst building work goes on.

If your bike has been stolen, Parking Partners have a crime reference number for you.  FYI, they've employed a person to wander around at night but they're not employed to look after the bike sheds.

Security in general
The front door was fixed today and is now NOT working 100% of the time.  We've (Nia, Gavin) been to see Peverel who outlined an extraordinarily complex structure whereby various contractors, suppliers etc are all arguing amongst themselves re a long-term fix.  We've contacted St George who are going to 'ring us back' - we're wondering if some direct action outside their sales office might help them along...

Notting Hill, who Nia contacted today, said it is St George's responsibility.  However, she's left a message with Paris as it's an ongoing security issue and we're trying to get NH to take some responsibility for their residents - watch this space;)

During our discussion with Peverel, they said some Hanover House resident's had deliberately broken their own front door.  They've no evidence but say some of us told them.  If you know anything about this please shout.  This chimes with their claim that the door breaks if you 'hold it open'.  They also mentioned a lot of police are being called due to various incidents, tho focusing mainly on Hobart House.

So, here are the headlines...
- BIKE SHED'S TARGETED BY THIEVES, MOVE YOUR BIKE TO OUTSIDE PARKING PARTNERS OFFICE
- USE A U OR D LOCK AS THE BENDY RUBBERY ONES ARE EASILY CUT THROUGH
- LOCAL THIEVES TARGETING THE BASEMENT/ DEVELOPMENT - SOME CHASED AWAY
- ...DUE IN PART TO THE SHUTTER BEING OPEN THO NEW ONE BEING COMMISSIONED
- RE UPSTAIRS: NO REMEDY TO BROKEN DOOR SITUATION WITHIN SIGHT
- PEVEREL ARE PUTTING NEW CCTV OUTSIDE OUR FRONT DOOR

SECURITY

Security's pretty much top of everybody's priority list and therefore all our responsibility. 

What to do?  Common sense things like not buzzing people in you don't know, reporting any broken locks/ doors to Peverel immediately and alerting the police to anything suspicious.