A ‘shrine’ has been erected dedicated to the burglar Henry Vincent (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

The police have asked the public to ‘respect the wishes’ of anyone who wants to pay tribute to burglar Henry Vincent.

Vincent’s loved ones created a ‘shrine’ to him after he was killed during a botched burglary at the home of pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks.

Wages could be 'topped up' when furlough ends in German-style scheme

But the cards and flowers were torn down by ‘vigilantes’ who argued they were an insult to the 78-year-old Osborn-Brooks, who has gone into hiding over fears of a revenge attack.

Vincent’s friends and family soon put the tributes back up – only for them to be ripped down again in a row that has been repeated over the past two days.




So far, tributes to the 37-year-old have been destroyed four times.

Iain Gordon pulls the flowers down from a fence opposite the house of Richard Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

The flowers left for a burglar killed at an address in Hither Green were torn down (Picture: Alexander Crawley)

Vincent was killed when he tried to burgle the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks (Picture: Kent Police/PA Wire)

And now police are said to be guarding the tributes and have reportedly threatened anyone who tears them down again with arrest.

Mike, who cut down tributes yesterday, told the Sun: ‘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.

How the new lockdown rules differ in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

‘We will take them down again if needed. It’s just a case of who’s brave enough to do it.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘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.

Floweres are torn down by a local man shortly after they are put up (Picture: Grant Falvey/LNP)

‘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.

All 500 students in halls of residence told to self isolate after positive case

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

‘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.’

Iain Gordon became the latest person to rip down flowers across the street from Mr Osborn-Brooks’ home in Hither Green, south-east London.

Police on scene in Hither Green as tensions rise over the shrine (Picture: Alexander Crawley)

These people are scum bags, scum bags, scum bags,’ the angry campaigner from the Fair Society group said.

Mr Osborn-Brooks was been arrested over Vincent’s death on April 4 but later released without charge.

The key events that have changed the UK in the six months since lockdown hit

He was hailed a hero for confronting the burglar and his alleged accomplice Billy Jeeves, 28, who police are still trying to trace.

But Vincent’s family had earlier criticised people who took flowers down honouring him.

His cousin Elvina Lee called those people ‘scum’ and added: ‘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.’



MORE: Hunt for boy, 12, wanted over sex attacks on five women

MORE: Secret oceans hidden on Earth could prove aliens are living in our Solar System, scientists say