Warden's Message concerning crime in London issued by the U.S. Embassy

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The following message is not to be viewed as a travel restriction.

Crime in the St. John's Wood area of London

Over the weekend of June 12-13, several street robberies were reported in the St. John's Wood area of London.

At 9:15 p.m. on June 11, four high-school students were robbed by two men, one of whom held a handgun, just west of Abbey Road, about three blocks from the American School of London (ASL) campus on Marlborough Place. On Saturday, June 12, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a lone assailant threatened to stab another student and proceeded to rob him. None of the students were harmed during the robberies.

While victims of these two incidents were teenage boys attending ASL, at least 18 incidents of robbery and/or attempted robbery have been reported in the Greater North Paddington area of London since Friday, June 11. Other recent incidents include daylight armed robberies of high-end jewelry stores on the Marylebone and St. John's Wood high streets, as well as groups of young men pursuing individuals on the street, presumably with the intent to commit robbery. These same groups also have attempted to force open entry doors to apartment buildings.

We realize that many Americans live outside the St. John's Wood area, but want to share this information as a precaution for those who may be visiting the neighborhood, as it is a popular tourist destination and home to many U.S. citizens.

As always, you should:

· Remain aware of your surroundings at all times.
· If you believe you have attracted the attention of a criminal, change your path and immediately seek shelter in a safe place, preferably off the street and in a crowded area.
· If you are confronted by a robber, hand over your possessions and remain calm. Immediately call 999 from a safe place. We encourage U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad to register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department's travel registration website in order to obtain updated information on travel and security. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Registering makes it easier for the embassy or consulate to contact you in case of emergency. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad."

To reach the American Citizen Services section of the U.S. Embassy in London, call us at 020-7499-9000, or send an e-mail to SCSLondon@state.gov. 
More information about the services we provide to Americans is available on our website at http://london.usembassy.gov.