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Shortly before 11pm on Monday 8th August the 168 bus I was on to south end green stopped near camden lock market as the road was closed due to disturbances. The only way for me to get home was to walk. As I passed the stables market I was surprised to a number of police with riot shields - but they were not in confrontation with any rioters. I walked up chalk farm road and was shocked to find a number of mainly young, mainly black, mainly hoody and scarf wearing looters helping themselves to whatever they could carry from the Sainsbury's Local. I decided to try to capture evidence on my mobile phone, but within a minute or two someone snatched my mobile phone and ran off with it. I suppose I should be glad that at least I wasn't physically harmed. As I continued to walk up towards Haverstock Hill, I passed the smashed windows of Evans Cycles. There were no police near to Sainsbury's and Evans at this time (about 11pm).
I am wondering whether, amidst all the wanton criminality of this night, I should bother to report the theft of my mobile phone.
What I witnessed seemed to me to be sheer opportunistic criminality - and nothing to do with the black man shot in Tottenham a few days ago. Having said that, it is interesting that the looters seemed to be about 80% black.
I arrived home to find that rioting and looting was being replicated all over London.
Shocking!

Ray Appleby