TERRIFIED locals on billionaire’s row use prowling dogs, 27/7 CCTV and private security to stop copy-cats after £10.4m money heist.
Avenue Road in Camden, London, also known as “Billionaire’s Row”, has a reputation for being one of the priciest streets in the UK.
Shafira Huang, a social media influencer and art collector, had £150,000 of Hermes Crocodile Kelly handbags, £15,000 in cash and £10.4m of bespoke jewellery snatched from her home on December 7.
Despite CCTV footage of the burglar, he is yet to be caught, following the burglary on December 7, 2024.
Now residents are upping their security game and protecting themselves but say there is only one thing to blame.
Walking along Avenue Road, vast homes sit behind tall gates, laden with security cameras.
The road itself is busy as it connects the nearby underground station Swiss Cottage to Regent’s Park.
Although the surrounding roads seem quiet, a swarm of security guards probe the area.
Serving as a reminder of the wealth that surrounds us, along with the rocketing crime rates.
Large plaques which read “beware of guide dogs” and “24 hour CCTV footage” also feature on virtually every home.
One local, Sarah-Jane, 55, told The Sun that crime is a worry, but having a dog makes her feel more secure.
She said: “You’ve got to be streetwise and sensible. But it is still frightening.”
One local, Kumrio Eokuamci, 70, has even come face to face with a thief in her home.
Ms Eokuamci has lived on Avenue Road for 40 years.
She said: “They [burglars] came from this house [she points] and jumped from the neighbours garden into mine.
“As I went into the kitchen, they [burglars] were trying to break in through the kitchen door.
“It was only 8pm. When he [the burglar] saw me, he ran. I called the police, they came round, but my back door was already broken.”
She added: “It’s very dangerous here.”
Houses in this area sell for around £15.5 million, data from Lloyds Bank indicates.
Meanwhile, Ms Huang’s house is currently on the market for just under £60million.
It boasts “expansive living spaces”, CCTV, a passenger lift, two kitchens 10 bedrooms, and an underground car park.
The man who burgled Ms Huang’s house is also said to have gone undetected by up to eight house staff members, MailOnline reports.
For Gerry, 55, who has lived in the area for 40 years, the recent heist shows the negative consequences of social media and “excessive wealth” have.
He said: “How can people have that much wealth and just leave it lying around? Surely this could be better distributed with those who have less?”
“It’s an indicator of where society has gone wrong. We were just talking about the stratospheric rides in these properties.
“It’s always been the wealthy, but now it’s the Uber wealthy, they’ve got private securities and all.
“We live in a very polarised society, with council flats just over there.
“I feel for the family, but also it’s incredible that you can have that much wealth lying around and hundreds of people are homeless in Camden Town.”’
With fury to match, local Lee, 45, believes “social media is the root of all evil” and it is to blame for this major money heist.
He said: “In the particular instance on Avenue Road, if someone flaunts their wealth on Instagram, they’re literally creating a shop window for burglars as if to say ‘come and take it.’
He said: “I think there’s a generation of people who are on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, who are trying to create better realities of their life.
“That’s the platform world but it’s not the real world. Social media is the root of all evil.”
Two young ladies, walking towards Avenue Road explained how they’ve lived in the area for years.
Despite loving the area, they say social media is worsening crime rates.
Scarlet, 32: “I think Avenue Road is notorious for crime because the houses are so big but I don’t think it helps with social media.
“You must be cautious about what you’re documenting along with having people follow you home.
Lauren, 32: “It’s just dangerous now, London, everywhere.
“Obviously this is a targeted area because there’s big homes and there’s a lot of wealthy people around the area but you just have to be aware.”
Kamran, 58, visiting from Dubai but currently staying on Avenue Road said: “Whoever broke into that house must have known they were keeping valuables in the house but generally, the security is really high in this area.”
For many locals, the rise of social media and a new wave of residents has contributed to the increase in crime targeted at high-networth individuals.
