
Police are threatening to arrest vigilantes if they continue to tear down tributes left by the family of a dead burglar, it has been revealed.

A 'disgraceful' memorial to Henry Vincent, who was killed by a pensioner he tried to rob, was torn down for a fourth time in three days and police faced increasing pressure to 'bulldoze' the shrine for good.

The 'battle of the bouquets' outside the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks is spiralling out of control after a turf war broke out between locals and the family of career criminal Vincent.

Now police officers are believed to be closely watching the memorial and have told neighbours to make no attempt to remove the flowers, threatening to arrest them for 'breaching the peace'.

Chief Superintendent Simon Dobinson, Lewisham Borough commander, said officers had a responsibility to provide assurances to local residents while also respecting the wishes of family to mark the 'tragic death'.

Firefighters fitted smoke alarms today at the home of a pensioner who killed a burglar amid fears of reprisals, while door-to-door salesmen were trying to sell burglar alarms to neighbours.

Lewisham resident Ian Gordon also turned up to rip down the flowers, cards and balloons in Hither Green, South East London, kicking them down the street and later throwing them in a passing bin lorry.

As he tore down the tributes he told MailOnline: ‘These are scumbags, scumbags, scumbags, we’ve had enough in this country of scumbags. It’s disgraceful'.

A new local vigilante has torn down the floral shrine to the stabbed burglar Henry Vincent - the fourth time in three days

Lewisham resident Ian Gordon today turned up to down the flowers, cards and balloons in South Park Crescent, Hither Green and said they were left by 'scumbags' in memory of a 'scumbag'

Mr Gordon kicked some bouquets down the street and later threw them in a passing bin lorry

Members of the London Fire Brigade arrive to fit smoke alarms at the home of pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green

One vigilante, known as Mike, told Sun Online: 'You'd think the coppers would have better things to do. We've been warned that if we do take them down again they will nick us so it's a bit trickier.

'There's a copper standing right next to the fence keeping an eye on the flowers. It's in case the travellers come down at the same time but they haven't yet.'

One of the vigilantes, Mr Gordon, who runs The Fair Society Campaign, said he is upset about the situation because his son was dealt drugs and his life is 'finished'.

As he ripped the bouquets off the fence he continued: ‘My dad fought in Monte Casino for a two bob a week pension, and you’ve got scumbags coming around here with f***ing toys, coming down here with your f***ing toys' - a reference to the plethora of teddy bears left in memory of Vincent.

Police are under increasing pressure to remove the shrine for good after complaints that it is a veiled threat to Mr Osborn-Brooks, who is in protective custody with his wife Maureen. Locals have also said they are intimidated by it.

Chief Superintendent Simon Dobinson, Lewisham Borough commander, said: 'I am aware of the concerns that have been raised by residents regarding the floral tributes placed in Hither Green.

'My officers have a responsibility to provide reassurance to local residents so they can go about their daily lives, while also respecting the wishes of family and friends to mark the loss of a loved one.

'They are not there to safeguard or facilitate the laying of floral tributes; we are liaising with the local authority who are considering appropriate management of the floral tributes.

'I do not want anyone to feel intimidated or that they are not being allowed to respond in a dignified way to a tragic death.

'We would urge members of the public to respect the wishes of those who choose to place flowers and other tributes in the area.

'We would also request those placing tributes or visiting the area to behave in a responsible manner so as not to disrupt the local community.

'A small police presence remains in place in and around South Park Crescent to provide reassurance to the public.

Police officers and firefighters gather outside Mr Osborn-Brooks's home in South East London as the smoke alarms are fitted

Door-to-door salesmen were trying to sell burglar alarms to neighbours on the street in Hither Green this afternoon

A fire engine and an official car stopped in front of the house in Hither Green this afternoon before firefighters went inside

A group of firefighters and police officers stand at the door to Mr Osborn-Brooks's home in South East London this afternoon

Gordon Williams, 44, and Christine Marshall, 48, have been ‘shocked’ at neighbours ripping down the flowers - so they’ve offered an alternative spot to lay tributes

Unemployed window cleaner Williams said he and his partner were just going to bed when they heard running and a screeching of car brakes and rushed out to help Henry Vincent as he lay dying

'There have been no arrests. Officers will assess any potential criminal offences including any allegations that are made to police, which will be dealt with in a fair and appropriate manner on an individual basis.'

Henry Vincent's family had returned to put up the flowers on the south-east London street this morning after it was ripped down for a third time last night - and may now return to restore it for a fourth time.

One resident, who has lived in the street for 18 years said: 'The flowers have made things worse. They keep going up then taken away.

'Now we are living in a war zone. Police have to be the grown-ups and calm things down. It can’t go on'.

Only one flower bouquet remains at the shrine. Ripped flowers, cards and ribbons are strewn over the pavement of the quiet street, while a card from one of his daughter's was ripped in half and left on the pavement.

Part of it read: 'To My Daddy. No words can describe the pain and heartache we're going through. You was so loved and cared about not even by just us by everyone.'

A statement from the Neighbourhood Watch Group for South Park Crescent and Further Green Road said: 'The family of Mr Vincent have been liaising with Lewisham Police who have advised that they do not condone Mr Vincent's behaviour but would like to mourn the loss of their family.

'Mr Vincent has daughters who would like to visit and pay their respects but feel unable to at this current time.

'The family have advised they would like to mourn and move on. The police are aware that the removal of the flowers may not have been carried out by a local resident.'

'Finally we would like to send an appeal to persons outside of the immediate neighbourhood, to be mindful of the delicate nature of this time of remorse and their actions of removing the flowers which may inflame the situation further.'

Meanwhile, a couple who saw Vincent dying outside their house have offered their fence as a new home for the family’s shrine, MailOnline can reveal.

Gordon Williams, 44, and Christine Marshall, 48, have been ‘shocked’ at neighbours ripping down the flowers - so they’ve offered an alternative spot to lay tributes.

London Fire Brigade firefighters arrive to fit four new smoke alarms at Mr Osborn-Brooks home this afternoon

Wednesday 8am: Henry Vincent's family returned to the south-east London street to restore the shrine after it was ripped down for a third time last night

Mr Osborn-Brooks (pictured left) was arrested on suspicion of Henry Vincent's (right) murder after he stabbed him with the screwdriver he used to break into his house. The pensioner was later released without charge, but is still being kept under police guard over safety concerns

Gordon told MailOnline: ‘We saw the poor guy lying in the road dying. We saw all the flower tributes ripped down by some of the neighbours. I’m a bit shocked about that.

‘The man collapsed three feet away from here. I believe the guy’s family have a right to lay flowers, which is why I’m offering this spot. The family have a right to come and pay their respects. Henry’s family, children, whoever.’

Unemployed window cleaner Williams said he and his partner were just going to bed when they heard running and a screeching of car brakes and rushed out to help Henry Vincent as he lay dying.

He continued: ‘Fair enough he was a burglar, but he was also a dad, a son, a brother. He had a life, he was a human being. I’d let them put a tribute up here. I’d stop anyone trying to take it down, of course I would.

‘I feel for Mr Osborn-Brooks, but I can see both sides.’

His unemployed partner Christine Marshall added: ‘We heard moaning and groaning. We came down to help. We saw his accomplice trying to get him into his van several times before he sped off and left him.’

Why hasn't the burglar's shrine been removed and is it breaking the law? Police insist they cannot remove the flowers and cards from the Hither Green street because it is not a crime. But members of the public have contacted the Met saying that it is a veiled threat to Richard Osborn-Brooks, who stabbed to death Henry Vincent after he broke in. Critics have said that the memorial constitutes harassment of locals in Hither Green - but the police seem to disagree. Under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 a person is guilty of causing harassment, alarm and distress if they 'display any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby'. One upset resident told MailOnline today: 'In the context when this poor man cannot return to his home how can this not be threatening?'. Advertisement

Another neighbour, who didn’t want to be identified, spoke of his ‘worry’ about the area being firebombed after firefighters gave what they called a routine inspection of the home of pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks today.

He told MailOnline: ‘It’s very worrying that someone could just drive up and throw something at the house and drive off.

‘There’s been a few burglaries down here already. I suppose they will target this area. An elderly woman living nearby was targeted before Richard was. I’m hoping that now that Henry Vincent is gone that this will all stop.’

Police on horseback were even sent in to keep the peace yesterday as tensions between Vincent's family and vigilantes boiled over into a third day.

Calling himself Big Bear, Mr Gordon said he didn’t know Mr Osborn-Brooks, the pensioner who fatally stabbed Henry Vincent when he broke into his home, saying: ‘I’ve never met him. He’s a hero. Why shouldn’t he come back and live in his property? The police can’t protect him? How disgraceful is that? He cant go back to his property without loads of scumbags coming over here. It’s a disgrace'.

When asked what he was going to do with the flowers, he said: ‘I’m going to put them out on the street and let somebody run over them. No what I might do is take them back to the people who put them there. It’s disgusting.’

He added: ‘Casing out the joints of old people. Let the old people start taking these people apart. It’s disgusting. It’s disgusting'.

Scotland Yard has received a number of complaints from the public but they insist it is not a matter for them and they will not be removing any posies unless a crime is committed.

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes has joined the growing number of people calling for the Met to step in because it is a 'threat' to Mr Osborn-Brooks and people living on the street.

'The police should come along every day with some street cleaner, a bulldozer, whatever and lift it up and dump all this stuff every single day', he said on Good Morning Britain.

More than 100 bouquets as well as cards, teddies and balloons have been torn down on three occasions by people insulted by the shrine to Vincent.

But the traveller's family keep returning to put it all back up again including cards from his parents, girlfriend and children who say he had a 'heart of gold' and was 'too good to walk the earth'.

His children have left a banner on a road sign promising to 'never let you go' and one daughter wrote a message for her 'one in million' dad saying: 'I love you more than anything in the world. I will never be ashamed to call you my daddy and you was the best one I could ask for'.

The traveller's family keep returning to put it all back up again including cards from his parents, girlfriend and children who say he had a 'heart of gold' and was 'too good to walk the earth'.

Henry Vincent's children have promised they will 'never let him go' in a new tribute tied to the sign at South Park Crescent today

His daughter as left a card saying 'strangers can say what they like' but she was 'proud' of him and said she was the best dad she could ask for

9.30pm Tuesday: Having ripped half of the tributes from the fence, the man then took them around the corner (left) before stamping on them (shown right)

6pm yesterday: Police officers on horseback patrol the scene amid growing unrest in the street, with neighbours furiously pulling down tributes to the dead burglar left by relatives

Now only 15 are remaining on the fence near Richard Osborn-Brooks property. The flowers and balloons on the adjacent Further Green Road are now completely gone.

The family of Henry Vincent (pictured) insist that he was murdered by the man he was burgling

It came amid tumultuous scenes in Hither Green since Vincent died in the botched burglary a week ago - but police insist the flowers row is not a matter for them unless a crime is committed.

A Met spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are maintaining a police presence in and around South Park Crescent to provide reassurance to local residents. The location of floral tributes is not a matter for police. Officers will assess any potential offences or allegations made to police'.

Lewisham Council has also refused to intervene.

Several police officers also stood guard near the shrine, across the road from Mr Osborn-Brooks's house, this morning over fears of a battle between Vincent's family and the vigilantes.

Vincent was stabbed to death on Wednesday after he attempted to raid the pensioner's home armed with a screwdriver.

His family has pledged to keep restoring the memorial if angry locals continue to tear it down.

A passer-by, who asked not named, said: 'The situation is getting out of hand now.

'The people leaving tributes have lost a family member but just look at the circumstances.

'This probably isn't the best place to leave flowers and things. What did they expect would happen?'

A local taxi driver said that Hither Green is fast becoming a 'no-go area.'

He said: 'I get both sides of the argument, but this is escalating too fast. I've been a cabbie for almost 20 years now, and I've seen everything.

'I know when not to go somewhere, and it's going to kick off properly in Hither Green. It's becoming a no-go area - you couldn't pay me to go there. I reckon there's definitely going to be some serious trouble.'

At about 9.30pm, a hooded man ripped about half of the bouquets down from a fence opposite the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, where Henry Vincent was killed.

When asked about stamping on the flowers and if he felt bad for the burglar's family, he said: 'I do actually. But I feel extra bad for Mr Osborn. I am just going to dump the flowers somewhere.'

Police mounted on horseback have been brought in to keep the peace as locals fight a running battle over the controversial shrine, but no attempts have been made to stop the repeated toing and froing.

The traveller family of serial criminal Henry Vincent returned to the South London road to put the flowers back up for the third time at 5.30pm on Tuesday, after they were repeatedly removed by furious locals.

Several women began fastening flowers to the fence opposite the home of the 78-year-old, which had been ripped down at 3.30pm, just an hour and half before they were last reinstated by mourners.

Horse-mounted police officers have been patrolling in the road amid growing unrest in the street, but Scotland Yard told MailOnline that it could not intervene as no criminal activity was taking place.

5.45pm Tuesday: Relatives of Henry Vincent have returned to the scene on three occasions; firstly to put the floral tributes up and another two times in order to put them back up after they were ripped down by locals

5.30pm Tuesday: Loved ones of Henry Vincent returned once again this evening and started re-attaching tributes to the fence opposite the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks after they were dismantled overnight and again this afternoon

The force said it would need to receive a complaint from the owner of the fence on which the shrine was erected to take action.

Billy Jeeves, 28, is on the run following a botched raid at the south east London home of Richard Osborn-Brooks last Wednesday

One neighbour suggested the shrine was placed opposite the Osborn-Brooks's home to 'antagonise' them.

She said: 'He [Vincent] did not die here. He died in hospital. You should put it where he lived. They should not have a tribute to him here. It should have been at the burglar's house.' The tributes had been attached to a fence surrounding a property owned by 78-year-old Saverimuthu Augustine.

Mr Augustine said: 'When I heard they were on my fence, I was annoyed. I do not appreciate people putting them there.

'If it was a normal person that is different but he went and burgled the house. That is against my principles. It could have been my house he burgled.'

Neighbour Theresa Webb, 43, said of the shrine: 'It was inappropriate, poor taste really. You're thinking, 'how long will it be up there?' I'm relieved it's down.'

People living near the home of stab death pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks fear the bodged burglary will put people off buying homes in the area.

And some worry they will be unable to sell or let their properties because of the notorious death.

Leading property expert Henry Pryor, who has been in the property business 34 years, said: 'Inevitably house prices will be affected.

'People understandably get spooked and we have seen it with examples in the past and now more recently.

'Houses that have a colourful history may make good copy but they don't make good prices.

'People understandably get spooked.'

He added: 'In 34 years no one has once rung me up and said that they want a house with a really grim history.'

5.30pm Tuesday: One of the family members takes a cigarette break after reinstating the shrine to burglar Henry Vincent, who was killed in a struggle with homeowner Mr Osborn-Brooks

3.30pm Tuesday: A man wearing a hat hacks down the shrine for career criminal Henry Vincent, opposite the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks

3.30pm Tuesday: As he tore down the flowers, the man said he was 'taking these s*** flowers down' calling it an 'insult' to Mr Osborn-Brooks

3.30pm Tuesday: The man, who wore a beanie and did not give his name, added 'these need burning' as he ripped the flowers down

Mr Osborn-Brooks himself has been forced into hiding after receiving death threats following the confrontation.

Vincent, armed with a screwdriver, was stabbed during a confrontation with Mr Osborn-Brooks as he tried to burgle his home last week while the pensioner's wife, who has dementia, was in the property.

Mr Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder – sparking a political outcry – but just two days later was told he would no face no further action. That, in turn, sparked anger from Vincent's family.

Vincent's cousin, who gave her name as Elvina, said of pensioner Mr Osborn-Brooks: 'He's a coward - he won't come out when we're here.

'When other people die they put flowers, why can't we? We're not allowed because we're gypsies. Henry was murdered, the man who did it should be tried. That's all I'm going to say; now f**k off.'

Elvina vowed to keep coming back if the flowers are removed again. She added: 'People paid for these flowers, so he must have been well-liked.'

The whole memorial has been torn down earlier at about 3.30pm by a man who said he was 'taking these s*** flowers down' calling it an 'insult' to Mr Osborn-Brooks.

The man, who wore a beanie and did not give his name, added: 'These need burning.'

Henry Vincent, 37, entered the property of Mr Osborn-Brooks with an accomplice in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police believe he forced the elderly homeowner into his kitchen armed with a screwdriver, where a struggle ensued and the intruder suffered a stab wound.

He fled the property on South Park Crescent in Hither Green, south-east London, at around 12.45am, and collapsed on neighbouring Further Green Road.

3.30pm Tuesday: The man cut down the flowers that had been left by relatives of career criminal Henry Vincent

3.30pm Tuesday: The flowers were ripped down by the man wearing a beanie hat and carrying a pair of scissors

3.30pm Tuesday: The man removes the shrine after it was put back up by relatives and friends of Henry Vincent around 2pm

2.10pm Tuesday: The shrine had been rebuilt earlier today by relatives and friends of robber Henry Vincent after it was vandalised last night

2.10pm Tuesday: One of the women who had put the flowers back up after they were ripped down last night talks with police today

Mr Osborn-Brooks was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, but was told by police he would face no further action.

Scotland Yard officers are still hunting 28-year-old Billy Jeeves, who is wanted on suspicion of aggravated burglary in connection with the incident.

Earlier on Tuesday, Elvina Lee called whoever pulled the tributes down 'scum' and labelled Mr Osborn-Brooks a 'murderer' and a 'lowlife'.

She said: 'He's got no remorse, there is no remorse there, have you ever heard that man say - not for Henry but for his mum and dad and his little girls - 'I'm sorry for his kids'.'

Mr Vincent's family also blasted the vigilante who pulled down the shrine for him outside Mr Osborn-Brooks' south-east London home, calling him a 'sick little man'.

Last night an 'infuriated' man filmed himself tearing down flowers, cards and balloons left for the career criminal outside Mr Osborn-Brooks' house and said: 'He was a piece of s*** who deserved what he got'.

But this afternoon Vincent's family and friends returned to the fence to tie bouquets, cards and balloons after they were ripped down.

2.10pm Tuesday: A shrine for a burglar stabbed to death by a pensioner was rebuilt by family today after it was torn down overnight

2.10pm Tuesday: Vincent's family told MailOnline today that the people who tore it down are 'scum' as they also called for Richard Osborn-Brooks to apologise

Tuesday morning: A shrine erected in memory of a burglar killed by the homeowner he was trying to rob was torn down by furious locals overnight

1am Tuesday: A vigilante drove to Hither Green, south-east London, before tearing down flowers and dumping the bunches in his boot calling them 'trash' (pictured left to right)

3pm Monday: Relatives of Vincent arrive at the scene to put up floral tributes opposite the home where he was killed as he tried to rob a pensioner and his disabled wife

3pm Monday: Several women erected the shrine to Henry Vincent on a wooden fence opposite the house where he was stabbed - tributes that last night were ripped down

Dead burglar's body released to family for funeral, inquest hears The body of a burglar stabbed to death by a pensioner in a raid on his home has been released to his family for burial, an inquest heard. Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, fatally stabbed Henry Vincent who with an accomplice broke into the Hither Green house he shared with his disabled wife, Maureen, 76. One of the burglars was said to be armed with a screwdriver and forced the elderly man into the kitchen in the early hours of last Tuesday morning. Henry Vincent fled the scene after being stabbed, but collapsed in the street just yards from the house in south east London. The 37-year-old later died at University Hospital Lewisham after suffering a stab wound to his upper body. Police on Friday said Mr Osborn-Brooks, who was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, will not face any charges. At Southwark Coroners Court today an inquest in Vincent's death was opened by Assistant Coroner Sarah Ormond -Walshe. A coroner's officer said the identification of Vincent's body was made by his sister after he died at University Hospital Lewisham. Addressing the family Coroner Ormond-Walshe added: 'I'm releasing the body.' She also indicated there would be a pre-inquest review hearing at a later date. Advertisement

Elvina Lee, who said she was Vincent's first cousin, told MailOnline: 'This is the best place for these flowers to be. I don't know what's wrong with these people (who dismantled them)…I think they're scum.

Discussing Vincent, she said: 'He was like a brother to me, he loved his family and his three babies. He wasn't a murderer, he wasn't a rapist, they're putting (sic) him as a monster. Murderer? The murderer is over there.'

Henry Vincent's aunt, was one on the seven women who put up the shrine and speaking at her home in St Paul's Cray, near Orpington, Kent today said: 'In Lewisham there's burglaries every five minutes and I don't see anybody else getting condemned.

'He's got three little daughters, they have done nothing to the world. They are innocent, like him here (she points to a small boy).

'They are even condemning them, it's not fair. Why rip all his flowers down? Why do that?

His auntie added: 'We didn't go and put anything on the old man's house we put it across the road where he died.

'From where he went to where he died, we did not go near the old man's house, we don't want to know about the old man, to me, do you want the truth? He's no f***ing pushover.

'There is none there mate, there is none there. This flower business has got to stop.'

She: 'They shouldn't have been there, fair enough, but somebody has actually died here and they have left a family of three little daughters.

'How would you like it if your daughter's crying for her dad? You're the uncle sitting there watching it and they are calling the children scum.

'These children go to school, they can go to college, what is wrong we these people?

'They are children and grieving for their dad and he was a good dad to them.'

Another family member said people tearing down the flowers was 'terrible'.

She added: 'Yes they've gone there to get a bit of money and they had no rights to be in the old man's place and I will say that...the old man did have rights to stick up for himself but he's done a murder, he has murdered him'.

Relatives of Henry Vincent arrive at his inquest today where the coroner released his body to the family for burial

Supporters of Henry Vincent have criticised a vigilante who has ripped down a shrine in his honour outside the house he was burgling

Vincent's father has also left a card at the scene and said he was 'too good to walk this earth'

However disgusted neighbours blasted police for allowing 37-year-old Vincent's family and friends to construct the memorial in the first place.

Officers said they were powerless to intervene.

Just after midnight last night a vigilante drove to Hither Green, south-east London, before tearing down flowers and dumping the bunches in his boot.

Billy Jeeves, 28, (pictured) is on the run following a botched raid at the south east London home of Richard Osborn-Brooks last Wednesday

He said: 'When I heard that the family of Henry Vincent (the burglar that got stabbed to death by his intended victim), had placed flowers on the road where he died, I was extremely furious. It infuriated me, so I just drove to south London, to the area to see it myself. Decided to remove the trash though.'

He added: 'Donated the flowers to local graveyard' and posted a photograph of the bouquets next to gravestones'.

Elsewhere, neighbours said they were terrified Vincent's supporters may return to stir up trouble.

One said: 'There is the fear they might come back and cause a rumpus. They made it a bit of a shrine and they will return to the shrine.

'I would not come out if they came back.'

Resident Theresa Webb, 43, said she was 'relieved' the large floral tributes had been cut down last night.

She said: 'It is not the place. It was stapled onto the fences of other neighbours who care for Richard. It is not nice. No one is in mourning for them here.

'We are a close knit community. The fact they put them there is inappropriate. There was 101 bouquets down there.'

Saverimuthu Augustine, 78, was concerned about the memorial.

He said: 'I'm annoyed they put them up. If it was a normal person it would have been different, but he burgled a house.'

A resident who lived two roads away was outraged by the memorial. He said: 'Why can't these people go to work like the rest of us. It's absolutely disgraceful, targeting an old man.

'I tell you what though, he done well. It's do or die in those situations, and if more people did what he did, there'd be less burglaries.'

EXCLUSIVE: 'If those scum came at me I'd get a screwdriver and do what the pensioner did!' Vigilante who was first to tear down shrine to dead burglar says he's not scared of retaliation as 'they all have low IQ' By JAKE WALLIS SIMONS, ASSOCIATE GLOBAL EDITOR The vigilante who tore down the flowers left in tribute to dead burglar Henry Vincent has told MailOnline he is not scared of retaliation because 'if those scum came at me I'd get a screwdriver and do what Richard did.' In an exclusive interview, the six-foot 29-year-old, who weighs 20stone, said he was not the sort of person to 'walk on by' when someone needed help. 'I just felt enraged that the family had the audacity to lay tributes for that animal scum,' he said. 'Flowers shouldn't be there, they are inappropriate. I'm from the school of thought where I think Richard did the right thing.' The network engineer from Hackney, who asked not to be named, added: 'I've always been one to get involved with fights between people on the bus and muggings. If someone needs help I always step in. 'Once I called an ambulance for someone who was lying unconscious on the ground. 'I'm not worried at all about retribution. I'm only keeping myself anonymous because my family was worried. We're talking about low IQ scum who can't connect the dots. They're not clever enough to find me and even if they did, I'd get a screwdriver and do what Richard did.' The first picture of the vigilante who removed the floral tributes to Henry Vincent last night The 'infuriated' vigilante filmed himself last night tearing down the shrine erected in memory of a burglar killed by a homeowner he was trying to rob calling the flowers, cards and balloons 'trash'. More than 100 bouquets were tied to a fence near 78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks' house to remember Henry Vincent, a career criminal stabbed to death in a botched burglar at the pensioner's property last week. His alleged accomplice Billy Jeeves, 28, is on the run having dumped their car close to the traveller estate the friends come from near Orpington, Kent. Outraged neighbours have blasted police for allowing 37-year-old Vincent's family and friends to construct the memorial, as officers said they were powerless to intervene. Cards left by his parents and girlfriend say he had a 'heart of gold' and was 'too good to walk the earth'. But late last night the vigilante drove to Hither Green, south-east London, before tearing down flowers and dumping the bunches in his boot. He said: 'When I heard that the family of Henry Vincent (the burglar that got stabbed to death by his intended victim), had placed flowers on the road where he died, I was extremely furious. It infuriated me, so I just drove to south London, to the area to see it myself. Decided to remove the trash though.' He added: 'Donated the flowers to local graveyard' and posted a photograph of the bouquets next to gravestones. Photographs taken by MailOnline today show flowers, balloons and cards left for Vincent torn down and strewn across the pavement. Many of the bouquets have disappeared altogether. Neighbours have said they are terrified that Vincent's supporters may return to cause trouble. One said: 'There is the fear they might come back and cause a rumpus. They made it a bit of a shrine and they will return to the shrine. 'I would not come out if they came back. ' Resident Theresa Webb, 43, said she was 'relieved' the large floral tributes had been cut down. She said: 'It is not the place. It was stapled onto the fences of other neighbours who care for Richard. 'It is not nice. No one is in mourning for them here. 'We are a close knit community. The fact they put them there is inappropriate. 'There was 101 bouquets down there.' The man has 'donated the flowers to local graveyard' and posted a photograph of the bouquets next to gravestones A shrine erected in memory of a burglar killed by the homeowner he was trying to rob was torn down by furious locals overnight Others living near Richard Osborn-Brooks had branded the memorial to career criminal Henry Vincent 'disgraceful', a'taunt' and an 'insult'. Nearly two dozen bunches of flowers were attached to a fence just 20 yards away from the 78-year-old's home in Hither Green, south London. One resident said of the mourners: 'They have taken over the road, but he can't move back. It doesn't seem fair.' Police officers in the area had said they had no powers to remove the tributes. NHS worker Kayleigh Taylor, 23, said: 'That is a really disgraceful display. They should not have this outside the house.' Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: 'That shouldn't be there. It's out of order.' The shrine in South Park Crescent also included balloons and cards that read 'you will be missed' and 'I love you', including one beginning 'To my Daddy'. Mourners at the scene yesterday refused to speak about their tributes and stayed to reflect for around half an hour. Flowers and cards left for the burglar have been ripped from fences and lampposts overnight Advertisement

Richard Osborn-Brooks' home remains sealed today and he is in protective custody with his disabled wife

Flowers and cards left for the burglar have been ripped from fences and lampposts overnight

Outraged neighbours blasted police for allowing 37-year-old Vincent's family and friends to construct the memorial and took the law into their own hands

Nearly two dozen bunches of flowers (pictured) were attached to a fence just 20 yards away from the 78-year-old's home in Hither Green, south London (left yesterday) but these have now been ripped down today (right)

One man has claimed to be responsible for tearing down the tributes late last night and some of the bouquets appear to have been taken away completely

Others living near Mr Osborn-Brooks had branded the memorial to Vincent 'disgraceful', a 'taunt' and an 'insult'.

Nearly two dozen bunches of flowers were attached to a fence just 20 yards away from the 78-year-old's home in Hither Green, south London.

One resident said of the mourners: 'They have taken over the road, but he can't move back. It doesn't seem fair.'

Police officers in the area had said they had no powers to remove the tributes.

NHS worker Kayleigh Taylor, 23, said: 'That is a really disgraceful display. They should not have this outside the house.'

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: 'That shouldn't be there. It's out of order.'

Mourners at the scene yesterday refused to speak about their tributes and stayed to reflect for around half an hour.

A traveller who knew Vincent for years warned that the dead man's relatives and friends were out for blood. He said: 'They won't get over a death of one of their own and they won't rest until they get their revenge.

'They'll go armed with whatever they've got – guns, knives, anything that they can lay their hands on. There is nothing that they won't do to get their own back on this pensioner.'

The shrine in South Park Crescent (mourners pictured placing tributes there yesterday) also included balloons and cards that read 'you will be missed' and 'I love you'

Mr Osborn-Brooks' wife Maureen, who suffers with arthritis, is believed to be taking her husband's ordeal badly, adding to neighbours' fury over the burglar's shrine.

Outraged local Kayleigh Taylor, 26, fumed: 'It's so insensitive, so disgusting it's make my blood boil.

'To me that is nothing but an insult. It's a taunt aimed at provoking Mr Osborn-Brooks and the people who live on this street who support him.

'I think this is a sick demonstration of how proud they are of what their relative did.

'If those flowers and tributes were on my fence, I'd have ripped them down straight away. I can't believe the police watched someone put them up and did nothing.

'Those burglars could have broken into any of our homes that night so they'll get absolutely no sympathy from us.'

Alexandra Naformita, 26, added: 'That man was not deserving of such a tribute.

'I've seen on TV his family say how he was a decent and loving man.

'If that's the case then what was he doing breaking into a house in the middle of the night?'

Mourners at the scene (pictured) refused to speak about their tributes and stayed to reflect for around half an hour

A woman is pictured bringing flowers to the makeshift shrine to Vincent opposite Mr Osborn-Brooks' home

An Osborn-Brooks' family friend said the couple 'knows that their ordeal is far from over'.

'Richard is handling the situation as well as can be expected but he's understandably very concerned,' the friend said.

'He and Maureen feel they cannot return home and that's very alarming for people their age.

'They don't know if they will ever see their home again as the police are taking the threats against them very seriously.

'That's why there has been a load of security cameras fixed to their property and the police are keeping watch.'

The friend added: 'It is very tough on Maureen. She is doing OK but she has real difficulty walking due to problems with arthritis.

'On that night, Richard worried that she was trapped in bed. He would do anything to protect her.

'This is the last thing they need at their age.'

'They won't rest till they get revenge': Traveller makes chilling warning to hero pensioner as dead burglar's fugitive 'accomplice' is identified and a SHRINE to fallen criminal grows at OAP's home

A traveller friend of a burglar stabbed to death by his victim has warned his friends and family 'won't rest until they get revenge'.

The man, who once beat career criminal Henry Vincent, 37, in a bare knuckle fight, told MailOnline his relatives are seeking revenge after Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, 'killed one of their own'.

The chilling warning came as a shrine was built in memory of Vincent opposite the pensioner's home in Hither Green, south London, which has sparked fury among residents.

Meanwhile a family friend said that Mr Osborn-Brooks is 'handling the situation well' but his disabled wife Maureen is finding it 'very tough' as they remain under police guard today.

Meanwhile officers also released a picture of Vincent's alleged accomplice Billy Jeeves, 28, who has been missing for five days, while a van he was believed to be driving was found burnt out and destroyed on Saturday night.

Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, (left) fears never being able to return home in case of a 'revenge attack' after he killed intruder Henry Vincent, 37, when he broke into his home while his wife is 'struggling to cope'

One card left for Vincent appears to have been written by his daughter saying 'strangers can say what they like' but she was 'proud' of him

A woman is pictured bringing flowers to the makeshift shrine to Vincent opposite Mr Osborn-Brooks' home

The house remains under police guard but family friends told MailOnline Mr Osborn-Brooks and his wife Maureen are worried they 'won't be safe there'

The traveller who knew Vincent told MailOnline: 'I know that Henry Vincent would have killed the pensioner first if he could have got away with it, but they will act like he's the victim in all of this.

'This poor man and his wife won't be safe going back into their own home. Anything could happen.'

The dead burglar was a known cocaine user and heavy drinker, the traveller, who did not want to be named, added.

The married father said: 'There is nothing that they won't do to get their own back on this pensioner for taking Henry from them, even though he broke into the pensioner's house armed with a screwdriver.

'They won't get over a death of one of their own and they won't rest until they get their revenge against anyone who takes a cherished loved one.

'And when I say revenge, I mean they'll go armed with whatever they've got – guns, knives, anything that they can lay their hands on.'

He described what happened when he faced Vincent face-to-face in a bare knuckle bout a number of years ago.

'I was in a car park with my cousins in St Mary's Cray one day and Henry said something offensive. I said, 'Who do you think you're talking to?' He said, 'Do you want to do something about it?'

'The next thing we had our shirts off and we were fighting with bare knuckles. I beat him within about 10-15mins. He was all mouth and no trousers. But we just shook hands afterwards and that was the end of it.'

Vincent, he added, had always preferred a life of crime to finding legitimate work.

'Henry would refuse to train and to get qualifications so they could do a proper job,' he said.

'All he wanted to do was to stitch people up all the time – the more vulnerable the better - and to get whatever he could out of them before moving on to his next victim.'

First picture of dead burglar's 'accomplice', 28, who is still on the run five days after pensioner break-in - as police release image of burnt out van 'used to flee the scene'

Billy Jeeves, 28, is on the run following a botched raid at the south east London home of Richard Osborn-Brooks last Wednesday

Police have released the first image of a suspected accomplice who is still on the run five days after a pensioner stabbed a burglar to death in his home.

Billy Jeeves, 28, is a wanted man following a botched raid at the south east London home of Richard Osborn-Brooks last Wednesday.

The pensioner, 78, was hailed a hero after he protected his home and wife from career criminal Henry Vincent, 37.

But police are wanting to question Jeeves, who has links to Orpington and Swanley in Kent, and Cambridge, as they believe he may have been an accomplice to the burglary.

A van he was believed to be driving was found burnt out and destroyed near Hockingdon Lane in Orpington, Kent, on Saturday night.

Since the incident, Mr Osborn-Brooks and his wife Maureen have not returned to their £500,000 home out of fear for their lives.

A traveller who knew Vincent – and once beat him in a bare knuckle boxing bout – told MailOnline that the dead man's family and friends 'won't rest until they get their revenge' for the killing of 'one of their own'.

The chilling warning came as a shrine was built in memory of Vincent outside the pensioner's home.

A van he was believed to be driving was found burnt out and destroyed on Saturday night, near Hockingdon Lane in Orpington, Kent

During the botched raid in South Park Crescent, Hither Green, the accomplice dragged a fatally wounded Vincent toward a van before leaving him for dead, according to a witness

Jeeves and Vincent were sought by police over a distraction burglary in Farningham, Kent, in November 2017.

The victim, a 70-year-old man, said he had his jewellery stolen when he let a woman, who claimed to have been attacked, into his home.

A white van appeared outside the home and when it honked, the woman left.

Video footage, obtained exclusively by MailOnline, is being examined by detectives who are hunting the second burglar, believed to be Jeeves, who fled in a white van after failing to resuscitate Mr Vincent.

Police remove belongings of hero pensioner and his disabled wife as bags of clothes, a hair dryer and tin of Roses are taken from home they can't return to amid fears of reprisal attack

Bags of clothes, books and other items belonging to the hero pensioner who killed a burglar were today removed from his home.

Two plain clothes police officers were seen loading some of Richard Osborn-Brooks's possessions into a Ford transit van parked outside his home in Hither Green, south east London.

They were seen taking away three bags filled with clothes, books, a hair dryer, phone charger and a tin of chocolates.

The 78-year-old and his disabled wife are still staying at an unknown location under police guard.

Police have warned of possible reprisals after Mr Osborn-Brooks stabbed intruder Henry Vincent, 37, to death after he broke into his home last week.

Two plain clothes police officers were seen loading some of Richard Osborn-Brooks's possessions into a Ford transit van parked outside his home in Hither Green, south east London

They were seen taking away three bags filled with clothes, books, a hair dryer, phone charger and a tin of chocolates in Hither Green

The pensioner was arrested on suspicion of murder but later freed without charge after a widespread campaign for his release.

But friends of the career criminal, who broke into the pensioner's home with an accomplice, believed to be Billy Jeeves, 28, have warned he is still in danger.

A traveller friend who knew Vincent told MailOnline: 'I know that Henry Vincent would have killed the pensioner first if he could have got away with it, but they will act like he's the victim in all of this.

'This poor man and his wife won't be safe going back into their own home. Anything could happen.'

'They won't get over a death of one of their own and they won't rest until they get their revenge against anyone who takes a cherished loved one.'

The men were seen taking items away as the 78-year-old and his disabled wife remain at an unknown location under police guard