Man sleeping with snooker cue under bed after spate of terrifying burglaries in Foleshill

One resident said: "Everyone is on edge around here"



Residents of a crime-ridden Coventry neighbourhood say they are sleeping with snooker cues under their beds and making their own pepper spray to protect themselves. Life on Churchill Avenue in Foleshill remains "absolute mayhem" CoventryLive heard, after a series of linked burglaries took place in December.

Eight properties in total were burgled, with six on Churchill Avenue. The series of crimes saw houses broken into and valuables stolen, as well as a series of car thefts.

West Midlands Police confirmed to CoventryLive this week they arrested two men in December in connection with the burglaries after increased patrols and intelligence gathering. Both men remain under investigation while they gather further evidence.

Foleshill ward councillor Tariq Khan also told CoventryLive he is working closely with police to tackle the issue of burglaries, car thefts, knife crimes and drugs. Last week CoventryLive spent the afternoon on Churchill Avenue to speak to residents about crime in the area and how safe they feel.

Residents contacted CoventryLive later that month and again in March, to say they have resorted to patrolling the streets after our initial report on the December burglaries.

Patrick Mulqueen has lived on Churchill Avenue for two years and said he sleeps with a snooker cue under his bed to protect himself. "The noise of the cars racing up the street, any kid could walk out and be killed.," he said.

"The amount of burglaries as well, they had cars taken. There's a few dodgy people living around here, I've got a snooker cue as a bat."

Nahela Begum lives a few doors down and had her house broken into in December. Ms Begum's sister, nephew and mum were in the house when it happened.

"There's been no follow up from the police, have they caught anyone? It doesn't help that all the alleys are open," she said.

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, had his van, cars, laptops and two-and-a-half thousand pounds stolen as he and his wife slept upstairs.

He said: "My van was stolen, my kid's car was stolen, they came in the back, took vehicles, emptied the living room of electronics. There was money downstairs for Christmas, they cleaned us out."

The resident and his extended family have lived in Foleshill for 50 years, but feel they want to leave since this has happened.

"Police are doing nothing about it, we've had no updates," he added. "I had a couple of grand for the kids, nearly two and half thousand pounds I'd saved up.

"It's hard to get over, we just can't move on. It's absolute mayhem."

Further down the road, Shazia and Mohammed Khan said they are considering leaving the area after 27 years.

"There's so many stabbings, too many thieves, they robbed my neighbours, it was terrible," Shazia said.

Shazia said her elderly neighbour had her gold necklace snatched off her neck, and said she is using perfume in her car as a defence.

"I'm tempted to make my own pepper spray," she said. Her husband Mohammed added: "The area is run down, there is a lot of anti-social behaviour."

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, had his van, cars, laptops and two-and-a-half thousand pounds stolen as he and his wife slept upstairs.

Pardon my cynicism but how did they know where to look?