Local police officers discovered 46 watches, 16 phones, and several laptops at Harrow Cemetery.
The items were found during a routine patrol conducted by the Headstone Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT).
Speaking to Harrow Online, PC Harry Hiscock explained the discovery: “Harrow Recreational Park/Cemetery is very well known to the Headstone SNT. Currently, there is an OP being run within this vicinity to tackle anti-social behaviour as from my own personal experience policing in this area, there is a history of drug use and rough sleeping etc. Since the OP has started with an increase in high-visibility patrols, we have seen as a whole a decrease in this matter.”
PC Hiscock added, “The cemetery has a history of rough sleeping and drug use, so we use this knowledge to continue to patrol it very often. On this particular day, coming onto the end of myself and my colleagues’ shift, we decided to patrol the cemetery to check that the people we have asked to move on had eventually moved on.
“Fortunately, this was the case. As we looked in the usual areas, no one was to be seen until a particular area had lots of random bags tucked away in a corner. Due to the park being only a gate away, we decided for the safety of children and members of the public that we should check and see what was in the bags.”
The patrol uncovered a significant find. PC Hiscock told Harrow Online, “After searching through the first handbag, all we could find was dirt and plastic snap-bags, which we emptied. Until the last bag caught my eye, to which I called over my colleague. Upon opening the large bag, there were two bags inside, the first bag full of watches, batteries, bracelets, and a mix of makeup, with the other containing many phones and tablets.”
PC Hiscock advised that the investigation is ongoing and urged residents to check if any of the recovered items might belong to them: “This find is still under investigation, however, I urge the readers if they have either lost or had a phone/watch stolen in the past year or so, the property is in Wembley Police Station at the time of speaking.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
For news tips, press releases or enquiries, contact Chris at info@harrowonline.org.
