Burglary victim warned he faces arrest over 'dead or alive' banner outside home

Offence: Mr Stephenson said he had been threatened with arrest by police over the use of language on the banner
Sebastian Stephenson
Jamie Bullen21 June 2016

A construction worker whose vans were broken into claims he was threatened with arrest for putting up a banner outside his home reading: "Wanted: Dead or alive".

Sebastian Stephenson, 34, put up the poster appealing for information - and offering a £1,000 cash reward - after saying two of his vans were broken into four times in just five months.

The project manager at Thornton Heath-based Diligent Developments said tools worth £4,500 were stolen in thefts between January and May.

But after putting up a sign outside his home in South Croydon, he said he was contacted by police who allegedly warned him to take the appeal down or face possible arrest.

But he told the Standard he had no intention of removing the banner, which he dismissed as "banter" designed to generate interest in the burglaries

Defiant: Mr Stephenson said he has not broken the law and will keep the sign outside his house
Sebastian Stephenson

He said: “I got a call from the police to say the inspector had been around my house.

“They wanted to have a conversation to me about the sign and they weren't impressed. I was told I could be arrested for a public order offence.

“I was very angry with the police. Everyone knows it is cowboys and Indians stuff. It’s just a bit of banter to get people interested in the sign.

“I’m not inciting violence. I said to the police, do you really think I want a dead body on my driveway?"

Mr Stephenson took CCTV of one of the break-ins by his home in Farnborough Avenue and said since it was posted online he has been contacted by “six or seven” other victims in the area.

He said he given police a description of the suspected thief, the times he has offended and the make of his car but was still told there was no “active investigation”.

He added: “They said if they get a name and address they will look into it but I said if I get that I’ll make a citizen’s arrest and bring him to the police station myself.

“If this was in the City the patrols would be upped but because it’s tradesmen in Croydon they don’t care.”

The Standard has approached the Metropolitan Police for a comment.

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