Thieves steal brick wall

A Highbury landlord has been left stunned after thieves stole a 30ft wall from one of his properties in broad daylight.

The thieves knocked on the door of the property in Highbury Grange last Friday and told the tenants they were carrying out repair work on the wall.

But within 60 minutes they had driven off with £1,500 of old stone in the back of their van, leaving a gaping hole from the pavement into the home's front garden.

Kevin O'Grady of Alwyne Estates, which manages the property, said: "When we went to the property and saw what had happened, it was almost laughable.

"Because the bricks in the wall were old they were worth something like a pound each. But if we have to go around looking after our garden walls it's getting to the stage where it's almost ridiculous."

The thieves' audacity extended into the following day when they returned to the street to continue their brick theft along neighbouring properties.

But luckily the next lot of tenants affected became suspicious and called the council to check who authorised the work, and the men fled.