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Police are investigating after a number of north-east London homes were daubed with red paint in recent weeks.
Paint has been seen splattered across bricks and windows in several addresses in Walthamstow and Leyton, worrying residents about the possible motive.
The vandalism, which has also been seen in other places around the country, remains something of a mystery, with no arrests having been made in a Metropolitan Police probe.
The latest crimes have been committed around Chingford Road in Walthamstow. There was an initial spaying of cars, homes and businesses on Thursday, March 13, before a second such incident on Tuesday.
In some cases, residents have been forced to clean their properties twice already.
“When I saw [the paint], I just cried,” a Walthamstow resident called Hannah told the Waltham Forest Gazette.
“We thought we were so lucky when we weren’t one of the homes affected.
“I’m at a loss. People on this street are really upset. My neighbour’s child thought the red paint was blood.”
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Waltham Forest Council has been praised for having jet-washed down some of the buildings. although red paint remains on others.
In previous incidents, such as those last month in Leyton, the word “brothel” was daubed on buildings in red paint.
The Met has said enquiries are continuing into the circumstances, including to establish if there is a link to other incidents outside the London areas.
“We are aware of a number of incidents whereby addresses in the borough of Waltham Forest have been criminally damaged with red paint in recent weeks,” the Met said.
“These incidents are being investigated by the local Safer Neighbourhoods Team to ensure all investigative leads are explored and support is provided to the victims of these incidents.”
Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said: “It's deeply troubling that this kind of incident has been reported around the country but there’s no central co-ordination to investigate, so residents in Walthamstow have been told the police won’t call on them for days despite this happening at a number of venues.
“For the families and residents living nearby, it’s terrifying as well as those in the properties.”
She has called on members of the town to not speculate about the causes of the graffiti.
The Met has asked anyone with details to call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting CAD 1081/19FEB.
Where has the red paint been seen?
The Met has said that Waltham Forest has been targeted every time in these instances but there have been prior reports of the issue around the country.
- Chingford Road, Walthamstow (March 2025)
- Cazenove Road, Walthamstow (March 2025)
- Leyton (February 2025)
- Leytonstone High Road (May 2024)
- West Hampstead (December 2023)
And, outside of London, the paint has been seen in Huddersfield, Bradford and Reading, the Guardian has reported.
