Life on the housing estate where residents fear their cars will be set alight
"I have no doubt that it might deter people from buying properties in the area"
The two cars set alight on Saturday, May 23 (Image: Jack Rivers)
Residents living on an estate near Hertfordshire are living in fear after cars were set alight and destroyed.
Over the past month at least six vehicles have been damaged on Meridian Way and Bradley Road, in Waltham Abbey on the Essex-Herts border.
On Saturday, May 23, police were called in the early hours of the morning, at 2.55am, to an arson attack on Meridian Way.
They found that two cars had been set alight and another had been damaged - luckily no one was harmed.
Just weeks later, on Thursday, June 18, police were again called to reports that two vehicles were alight on the same road and a third which was on fire on Bradley Road.
The frequent torching of cars on the estate has left residents living in fear of becoming the next potential target.
Neighbours have called for street lights to stay on late at night and for further police patrols to help their situation.
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The residents who installed camera doorbells just to check on their car
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, has bought and installed a 'Nest' door bell just so that she can keep an eye on her car.
She has lived on the estate for three years and says she moved to the area because she thought it was a "safe neighbourhood" but her thoughts have changed following the recent arson attacks.
"It's bit nerve-wracking really," she said.
"I always park my car out the front of my house now so I can keep an eye on it.
"My camera picks up any movement out the front of my house, a few weeks ago it picked up on someone trying to break in, so it is really good.
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"If I were to leave my car anywhere else it wouldn't be caught on camera.
"Whoever leaves their car along Meridian Way are very brave, I don't know why all of a sudden there is so much crime around here."
A 49-year-old woman, who also wanted to remain anonymous, has major concerns about the increase in crime.
She has lived in the area for 14 years and is fearful that the fires are only going to get worse.
She said: "It's becoming more and more frequent now and it's not just one car, it's often two at a time - at some point someone's house will catch fire.
"People around here are worried that they will come home and find their car or home is a pile of ashes."
A Smart car was burnt on June 18 while parked on Bradley Road (Image: Jack Rivers)
She was awoken at 3am on Thursday morning by raised voices after a Smart car on Bradley Road was set alight.
She said: "We heard three huge explosions from the tyres exploding.
"It's so sad because the victims are genuine nice people who have worked hard for the things they have.
"We are worried because we have just bought a brand new 20 plate car and it is parked so close to our house that it could catch light to the bushes and the house could go up in flames."
The woman bought and installed a 'Ring' doorbell and positioned it so that it would pick up on any movement around her car.
She said: "There needs to be more safe parking around here really, the flat's car park gets full and that's why people park their cars on Meridian Way overnight.
"Whoever is doing this does not discriminate when it comes to the type, they will burn any car."
"I will certainly not be parking there"
Jack Rivers who lives with his mum on Howse Road saw the effects of both fires on May 23 and June 18.
The 17-year-old said: "I have just bought a Hyundai i10 and I will certainly not be parking there.
"Throughout lockdown where people haven't been at work the road has been packed with parked cars.
"I think people will use their common sense and not park here because of the debris left behind.
"The last time it happened fire investigators were looking at footprints in the mud and collecting evidence."
Emergency services investigated the fire (Image: Jack Rivers)
Husband and wife Christopher and Kathy Christou, who have lived on Bradley Road for 17 years, are the latest residents to have their car destroyed in an arson attack.
For five years the pair owned a Smart car which they parked in or outside their garage around the back of their home.
Christopher, 70, used the car to take his grandchildren to and from school each day.
Christopher said: "It has put me off buying another car now, but we need one as soon as possible because it's so inconvenient not having one.
"We haven't been back in the garage yet as it's not safe, we are waiting for the insurance company to come and move the wreckage.
"If we get another car where will we park it? We don't want to live in fear."
Kathy, 68, said: "You don't know what is going to happen next, they might start putting fire through our letter boxes - who knows."
"We need more CCTV in the area and we need the street lights to stay on at night"
Meridian Way has been targeted on more than one occasion (Image: Jack Rivers)
Christopher and Kathy believe the council could do more to keep their homes and cars safe.
"We need more CCTV in the area and we need the street lights to stay on at night - both may act as a deterrent," they said.
A 56-year-old woman, who wished to remain anonymous, was at home at the time of the last arson attack on Bradley Road.
She said: "If I have guests round I always park my car round the back and I let them park round the front.
"That night I had a friend coming over but luckily they cancelled last minute so my car was out the front all night.
"My sensor lights were going off at about 2am, but I thought it was triggered by the thunder and lightening so I went back to bed - I'm so angry with myself for not checking."
Just moments later she saw the car go up in flames.
"I saw the car blow up, I thought my conservatory was going to come down it was so close to my home," she said.
The man worried he will struggle to sell his home
The estate is very quiet during the day
Simon Prichard has lived on Bradley Road for seven years and his three bedroom semi-detached home is currently up for sale.
The 51-year-old is worried the crime in the area will affect the sale of his home.
He said: "I think we all need to be more vigilant.
"Lots of people are aware of the crime in the area, there is even a Facebook group dedicated to it.
"We were wanting to sell long before the arson attacks started but I have no doubt that it might deter people from buying properties in the area."
Simon thinks more cameras and keeping the street lighting on all night may go a long way to helping stop future arson attacks.
Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) and Essex Police have issued a joint statement: "We are working closely with Epping Forest District Council to reassure local residents after a spate of arsons on the Meridian Park Estate in Waltham Abbey."
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Chief Inspector Ant Alcock, District Commander for Epping Forest, said: "I appreciate that recent incidents have caused uncertainty and fear for local residents; I can promise you that our detectives are working diligently to gather evidence and identify those responsible for these fires.
"I'd like to thank everyone who has spoken to our officers and provided CCTV, doorbell footage, or dash cam footage
""We are treating these arson attacks as linked and are working with partners, including the council, to put in extra measures to protect people on the estate.
"I'd like to ask members of the local community not to speculate. While arrests have been made, the investigation is still very much in progress and any speculation on social media, or in public, could hamper our ongoing enquiries.
"In light of the arsons, officers are taking regular patrols of the area, and I would encourage you to speak to them if you're concerned or have any information which may assist us."
EFDC Ward councillors for this area, Cllrs Helen Kane and Dave Plummer are petitioning Essex County Council - which is responsible for street lights - about keeping the lights on beyond 1am.
"We are encouraged to be working in partnership with Essex Police and Essex Fire and Rescue Service in responding to these disturbing incidents. The safety of Waltham Abbey residents is our prime concern and we hope that by working together we can resolve this situation."
A spokesperson from Essex Police also stated that Meridian Park is a mix of privately owned and London and Quadrant Housing Association properties.
A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following the June 18 incident.