Police threaten arrests to protect ‘shrine’ to dead burglar

POLICE threatened to arrest vigilantes yesterday for tearing down tributes to a burglar who was fatally stabbed by pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks.

Officers told Mr Osborn-Brooks’ neighbours that anyone moving the flowers and messages for Henry Vincent may be in breach of the peace.

The warning came as firefighters fitted new smoke detectors at the 78-year-old’s home amid a tinderbox atmosphere in the neighbourhood.

Yesterday the memorials in Hither Green, south-east London, were torn down for the fourth time in three days.

Iain Gordon, who claimed to be a member of the Fair Society pressure group, said: “These people are scumbags. Would you go around allowing someone to stab your parents? Would you allow someone to come round with a screwdriver?

“We’ve had enough in this country of scumbags.”

Referring to Mr Osborn-Brooks, he added: “This guy should be allowed to live in his house, he can’t go back to his house.

“He’s a hero, I would shake his hand. He was forced to kill somebody. What would you do if your wife was going to be attacked?”

Last week Mr Osborn-Brooks was told he would not be charged over the death of Vincent, 37.

Last night only one flower shrine remained to the serial burglar who made a career of targeting the elderly. The attached message said: “To my daddy, no words can describe the pain and heartache we are going through.”

Mr Osborn-Brooks was at home with his wife in the early hours of last Wednesday when he was confronted by Vincent and an accomplice.

The career criminal from Orpington, Kent, threatened him with a screwdriver but died after being stabbed in the resulting scuffle.