Armed robberies on towpath

Published: Friday, 08 January 2010

THERE have been two armed robberies on the Regent's Canal  towpath this week, and police are again warning people to keep away from the towpath.

Regular readers may remember the warning in narrowboatworld after gangs had robbed towpath walkers, but people have still been using the towpath in the dark against police advice, with robbers now armed with guns.

Police patrols on the canal towpath have been stepped up following two armed robberies, resulting in five teenagers, all aged 15, being arrested after the second robbery.

Threatened with gun

In one incident a 14 years old girl was threatened with a gun on the towpath in Camden, though she was with male friends. The two robbers, one with a gun, lined them up by a wall under a bridge, searched them and took their valuables.

Before this, two men and two teenage girls, were threatened with a pistol, then robbed and told to stay there until the two robbers had left the scene.

Del Brenner of Regent's Network tells us:

"More muggings on the towpath, and this time with guns. This is why I objected to British Waterways installing lighting along the towpath as it encourages people to use the towpath after dark. It is sensible to have lighting under bridges as this can be a reassurance on dull days or at dusk, and there are more people around during the daytime. But the towpaths are very isolated, and I never walk along the canalside around here after dusk.

"I used the  photo [the text on his board is 'HELP']  in the campaign against the lighting, and that spot down on the towpath at Camden Road bridge is totally isolated and a very long way from any access point (as BW call the canal entrances), or escape route as the local Metropolitan Police advising on canal safety call them."