At around 4am on Friday 16th May, vandals daubed red paint and scribbled ‘brothel’ graffiti on a property in Lea Bridge Road, reports Marco Marcelline
The police are investigating another red paint attack on a property in Waltham Forest, the ninth such act of vandalism in the borough since the start of the year.
At around 4am on Friday 16th May, vandals daubed red paint and scribbled “brothel” graffiti on a residential property in Lea Bridge Road, Walthamstow.
CCTV of the incident that was shared with the Echo shows a hooded young woman lobbing the paint at the property before using a sponge to smear it on neighbouring businesses including a barbers shop, a William Hill, and a café.
After vandalising the properties and businesses, she is then seen to throw two tubs of paint on the pavement.
A second young woman is also seen carrying a tub of paint before quickly walking out of view.
A shopkeeper, who asked not to be named, said the incident had left him “distressed”. The shutters on his shop were almost completely coated in red paint from the attack, and it was not possible for him to clean all of it off, he said.
He added that staff from Waltham Forest Council had attended the scene and jets prayed some of the paint off from the targeted buildings on Friday morning.
The Echo understands this isn’t the first time there has been vandalism in the street; in December red paint was thrown at the same property, though surrounding properties and businesses were left unscathed.
The red paint attack on Friday is the fourth in Walthamstow since 13th March, when attackers vandalised residential homes in Cazenove Road. A follow-up identical attack in Chingford Road the following week was then repeated in Hoe Street in mid-April.
Several identical incidents in Leyton and Leytonstone in February also left residents there shaken. In every single incident, vandals graffitied “[House/Flat X] is a brothel” on a property before smearing red paint on surrounding homes or businesses.
They also put handwritten notes through letterboxes alleging a house on the street is a brothel.
The Metropolitan Police has stated there is “no firm evidence” that any of the targeted properties have been brothels.
Daubing red paint on doors is reportedly a tactic currently used by Chinese Triad gangs to intimidate debtors.
The gangs also target the debtor’s family, friends or neighbours in a further attempt to intimidate them into paying back their debts.
Oliver Chan, an associate professor in criminology at the University of Birmingham, told the Daily Telegraph that red paint is often used by gangs in southern parts of China and Hong Kong, as well as in Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.
He said: “Traditionally the use of red colour symbolises anger and impulsion.It can serve two primary purposes – to intimidate rival gangs who seem to operate in their territory or turf… and to threaten debtors who are unable to pay up.”
A Met Police spokesperson told the Echo: “On Friday, May 16 at 2.11pm, officers attended an address on Lea Bridge Road, Walthamstow, after reports of vandalism. An investigation is underway and no arrests have been made at this stage.
This is the ninth similar incident of vandalism in the area. Officers are exploring whether they are all linked. We understand the concern in the community and are increasing patrols. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call 101 referencing CAD 3584/15MAY25.”
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