Police were yesterday urged to step into the “war of the posies” battle over a street shrine to the burglar stabbed to death by a pensioner.
Floral tributes left for career criminal Henry Vincent in the street where he died were torn down by vigilantes on Tuesday night for the third time in 48 hours.
Neighbours yesterday said the dispute had turned their quiet south-east London street into a “war zone”.
The makeshift memorial in Hither Green was erected on Monday by members of Vincent’s family, apparently including his girlfriend and children.
More than 100 bouquets as well as cards, teddies and balloons have since been repeatedly put up and torn down from the fence in South Park Crescent, opposite the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, who stabbed Vincent during the 37-year-old’s botched burglary.
Police on horseback were seen patrolling the street as tensions between Vincent’s family and vigilantes threatened to boil over.
A 58-year-old resident, who has lived in the road for 18 years, yesterday said: “The flowers have made things worse. They keep going up then taken away. Now we are living a war zone in what has always been a quiet street and it needs to stop.
“Police have to be the grown-ups and calm things down. It can’t go on.”
One neighbour, who did not give her name for fear of reprisals, said: “This is a quiet community and it’s being ruined. The attention is ramping up and its causing vigilantes from outside the area to turn up. We feel under threat and it’s putting us all in danger.”
The latest attack came on Tuesday when a hooded man arrived at 9.30pm and was filmed ripping nine bouquets from the fence.  Minutes earlier, two women had pulled up in a dark BMW and carefully straightened flowers that had been blown upside down by the wind.
Insisting on anonymity, the hooded man said: “I do feel very strongly about this. I think it’s quite disrespectful actually. I do (feel bad for his family). But I feel extra for Osborn-Brooks.”
Asked what he was going to do with the flowers, he replied: “I’m just going to dump them somewhere.”
Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail, but was told on Friday that no action would be taken. The pensioner’s arrest prompted a public outcry, with an online fundraising campaign gathering thousands of pounds.
Osborn-Brooks and his disabled wife have had to leave their home because of concerns for their safety and are thought to be staying with friends.
Vincent’s alleged accomplice, Billy Jeeves, 28, is being sought over the failed burglary, Scotland Yard said.
Police yesterday remained on guard outside the home of Osborn-Brooks, about 20 feet from the shrine.
Ripped up cards and flower petals are strewn on the pavement where 15 bouquets remain tied to the fence.
A Met spokesman said: “We are maintaining a police presence in and around South Park Crescent to provide reassurance to local residents.  The location of floral tributes is not a matter for police.”