Get to know your neighbours
Dear Editor,
I write on behalf of residents of Wiltshire Avenue to correct the comment by the police reported in your story about the tragic murder of Mrs Karen Lee. “People need to be more neighbourly,” said Inspector Brown. “In this case people saw the guys from about 1:30 tampering with the car and not even a call was made to the police.”
I live near Mrs Lee’s house, and this is what another resident told the police: Early Sunday morning he saw two of three men who had been going to Mrs Lee’s house on previous occasions to work as gardeners. They rang the gate bell and were let in and the two iron gates closed after them. Mid-afternoon the same resident heard a car alarm activated, saw that Mrs Lee’s car was stalled in her driveway with the engine running. The thought that the car was being stolen did not occur to him, as one of the two men who had gone earlier was walking casually away speaking on his phone, while the other followed him out, so he assumed they were calling Mr or Mrs Lee to say the car was not working.
It was not until some hours later when Mr Lee arrived home and raised the alarm that we all knew what happened. The two men are known to the house gardener and helper, and we expect them to be caught soon.
What I will say is that even though we have lived near Mrs Lee for four years, she has never spoken to us. All we have ever seen is her car with tinted windows passing through iron gates with an electric opener. My only comment on this sad and horrible tragedy is to advise people to get to know your neighbours – come out of the house in the evenings and sweep leaves off the driveway so they can see you; go for a walk with your dogs; walk for the Sunday papers; do all this just so you can smile and say hello to the people who will go to your help in time of need.
We are peeved that the police comment caused us to appear uncaring neighbours, when in fact it is evidence from residents that the police are now relying on. Our sympathy and condolence go out to Mrs Lee’s family.
Elaine Evans
Kingston 6
