ANOTHER Waltham Forest home has been broken into and occupied by a gang of families who refuse to move - as concern grows over the extent of the problem in the borough.

Businessman Peter Grainger, 38, is the latest victim after he returned home from a holiday in the USA to discover on Friday (September 2) that his property in Mayfield Road, Walthamstow, had been invaded.

It comes just weeks after civil servant Julia High, 55, had her house occupied in Ashvill Road, Leytonstone.

Other homes in surrounding streets have been hit, while a number of homes in St John's Road, Walthamstow, have also been reportedly targeted.

Victims have been told by police that the gangs, thought to be of Romanian origin, are exploiting squatting regulations because they are technically only committing a civil offence once inside a property, leaving officers “powerless” to act.

But Mr Grainger said he was “frustrated” at the police response. Neighbours claim to have called 999 last Wednesday (August 30) when the break-in was taking place, but officers failed to attend. A Met spokesman said there were no records of such a call.

"It's just a terrible situation", said Mr Grainger, who owns an IT company. "This could happen to any house and the people responsible would get away with it."

Mr Grainger, who purchased the near-derelict semi-detached house in February, is staying at his other home in Walthamstow but said the ordeal is likely to cost him at least £2,000 in legal fees as he tries to evict them.

He said he had secured the property with locks and bolts and had "no doubt" that entry was forced.

"When I confronted them I was shown a fake tenancy agreement, which was obviously a load of rubbish, so I went straight to the police. I explained to them what happened but they said there was nothing they could do.

"I don't want to sound like a 'Little Englander' but I work hard and pay my taxes but the politicians and police aren't helping, no-one seems to be interested. Yet this could happen to anyone in Waltham Forest.”

Mr Grainger added that his solicitor has dealt with five similar cases in the borough in recent months, and in some incidents the occupiers had allegedly threatened homeowners with violence.

A spokesman for Waltham Forest Police said: "Trespass to land is a civil wrong and as such the police have no jurisdiction. A landlord/owner, etc, cannot force entry into property where there are squatters whilst someone is inside.

"However, they can get a county court order fairly easily and deal with the matter by that means, which if breached may then turn into a criminal matter."

When asked about the number of cases in the borough, he added: "This kind of problem is not unheard of in Waltham Forest. There have been previous such incidents in Waltham Forest.

"Police are requesting land owners to secure their property prior to leaving them unoccupied and asking their neighbours/ family/friends to check it regularly on their behalf."

It is thought the group, which includes several women and children, are still inside Mr Grainger's house.

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