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| Police investigating theft of money from Grenfell Tower flat | Police investigating theft of money from Grenfell Tower flat |
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| Police are investigating the theft of money from a flat abandoned after the Grenfell Tower fire in west London, prompting fears that other properties on the site could have been targeted by thieves. | |
| People who were directly affected by the disaster were informed on Friday of the theft, which police think took place after Tuesday 20 June, six days after the blaze. | |
| DCI Matt Bonner told them: “Some money appears to have been stolen from a flat within Grenfell Tower ... This is clearly a serious allegation and one that must be fully investigated.” | DCI Matt Bonner told them: “Some money appears to have been stolen from a flat within Grenfell Tower ... This is clearly a serious allegation and one that must be fully investigated.” |
| Bonner said police were working with the family affected and would “follow every possible line of inquiry to establish who is responsible for the theft and how the offence was committed”. There was no indication of how much money was missing. | Bonner said police were working with the family affected and would “follow every possible line of inquiry to establish who is responsible for the theft and how the offence was committed”. There was no indication of how much money was missing. |
| The news immediately raised concerns over security measures around the block, which is guarded 24 hours a day by a combination of police officers and private security staff. | The news immediately raised concerns over security measures around the block, which is guarded 24 hours a day by a combination of police officers and private security staff. |
| The Labour MP David Lammy called the theft “a disgrace and an outrage”. | The Labour MP David Lammy called the theft “a disgrace and an outrage”. |
| “Where were the police? We are seeing a litany of failures for the victims. Grenfell Tower is a crime scene, so this raises serious questions for the Metropolitan police about the security of this crime scene and integrity of the ongoing investigation at Grenfell,” he said. | “Where were the police? We are seeing a litany of failures for the victims. Grenfell Tower is a crime scene, so this raises serious questions for the Metropolitan police about the security of this crime scene and integrity of the ongoing investigation at Grenfell,” he said. |
| Emma Dent Coad, the Labour MP for Kensington, said: “The report of this theft is of huge concern to my constituents ... You would imagine that a crime scene would be closely guarded day and night, yet somehow an outsider has been able to get in and commit this appalling and disrespectful crime against survivors of the Grenfell fire. | Emma Dent Coad, the Labour MP for Kensington, said: “The report of this theft is of huge concern to my constituents ... You would imagine that a crime scene would be closely guarded day and night, yet somehow an outsider has been able to get in and commit this appalling and disrespectful crime against survivors of the Grenfell fire. |
| “Clearly the police need extra resources ... This is not the time for austerity politics.” | “Clearly the police need extra resources ... This is not the time for austerity politics.” |
| Police did not rule out the possibility that the theft could have been committed by a Met officer, saying: “One of the lines of inquiry must be to examine exactly who has had access to the site and the flats, either as authorised personnel or otherwise.” | Police did not rule out the possibility that the theft could have been committed by a Met officer, saying: “One of the lines of inquiry must be to examine exactly who has had access to the site and the flats, either as authorised personnel or otherwise.” |
| They said people were allowed to access undamaged flats on the lower floors from 4 September and six families had been able to access their flats so far. | |
| There are concerns that other families may have been affected by similar thefts. The Labour councillor Judith Blakeman said: “The problem now is that some residents who absolutely did not wish to go back to their flats, even to collect possessions, now feel that they have to go back, despite the severe trauma this would cause them. | There are concerns that other families may have been affected by similar thefts. The Labour councillor Judith Blakeman said: “The problem now is that some residents who absolutely did not wish to go back to their flats, even to collect possessions, now feel that they have to go back, despite the severe trauma this would cause them. |
| “I had also been told that youngsters had been able to get over the barriers to the site some time ago, but that this had been stopped. But it does suggest that security is wanting.” | “I had also been told that youngsters had been able to get over the barriers to the site some time ago, but that this had been stopped. But it does suggest that security is wanting.” |
| One volunteer said residents had returned to collect what undamaged belongings they could, only to find that some were missing. “These people decided they would go back and face the wreckage and trauma as they wanted to collect their sentimental items ... It’s like stealing from a graveyard in my opinion, it’s really immoral and pretty horrific,” the volunteer said. | One volunteer said residents had returned to collect what undamaged belongings they could, only to find that some were missing. “These people decided they would go back and face the wreckage and trauma as they wanted to collect their sentimental items ... It’s like stealing from a graveyard in my opinion, it’s really immoral and pretty horrific,” the volunteer said. |
| Police said they had no reports of other incidents so far, but Bonner told residents: “Every other flat within Grenfell Tower is currently being assessed to try to establish if any other thefts may have occurred.” | Police said they had no reports of other incidents so far, but Bonner told residents: “Every other flat within Grenfell Tower is currently being assessed to try to establish if any other thefts may have occurred.” |
| The Met said extra security had been put in place. “An investigation into the alleged theft is now being carried out. Steps have been taken to review the security of all the flats within Grenfell Tower, and some changes immediately put into place,” it said in a statement. | The Met said extra security had been put in place. “An investigation into the alleged theft is now being carried out. Steps have been taken to review the security of all the flats within Grenfell Tower, and some changes immediately put into place,” it said in a statement. |
| Celeste Thomas, a local resident, said: “I don’t know the families affected myself, just that locally there’s anger it’s taken them this long to be taken seriously. | Celeste Thomas, a local resident, said: “I don’t know the families affected myself, just that locally there’s anger it’s taken them this long to be taken seriously. |
| “Living within the cordon that surrounded the tower for the first 10 days, when the robberies are alleged to have taken place, I know that it was hard to get into the area. There were only emergency responders and their support staff, so it’s adding to a sense of mistrust between the community and authorities.” | “Living within the cordon that surrounded the tower for the first 10 days, when the robberies are alleged to have taken place, I know that it was hard to get into the area. There were only emergency responders and their support staff, so it’s adding to a sense of mistrust between the community and authorities.” |