More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Reckless youngsters are skateboarding and cycling on rooftops.
Some even jump between roofs on their skateboards and now locals fear there will be a tragedy.
These alarming pictures, showing three boys and a girl, were taken by staff at the Brunch café in Dover.
Scroll down to hear from Elaine Walker who saw the children on the roof
The youngsters, believed to be teenagers, have been seen on top of both the restaurant and other properties such as the neighbouring Silverbacks Gym.
Brunch boss Dan Groves told KentOnline: "I don’t think it’s an exaggeration that somebody will be killed.”
He said there is both a danger of the youngsters falling off the edge and through the roofs.
He stresses they are not built to withstand people jumping, cycling or skateboarding on them.
Mr Groves said: “These youths need to be identified and their parents told before something terrible happens.
“We can hear them when they are on top of our building.
“They even jump on between roofs on their skateboards when the gap is narrow enough.”
Mr Groves said when staff took these pictures the youths hurled abuse at them.
He explained: “They said: 'You're crazy, taking our pictures'.
“I told them they were crazy for being up on the roof.”
The restaurant put out an appeal on Facebook to tackle the problem, saying: “Please, if you know any of the children at risk in the photos, even perhaps just by clothing, please speak to them before someone is injured.”
The post received several replies including one from Andrea Cassidy who said there was a similar problem in Tower Hamlets. There young people get on top of a thin-sheet roofed scout hut.
She said: "Sadly there appears little we can do but I agree they won’t be happy until they get hurt no matter how many times I show them how thin the roof is.”
She explained the hut is in a play park and the youths use a zip line and wall next to the building to get on top.
Another commentator, Aimee Langley said the problem had been going on for years at the building of the Dover Oddfellows Club building where she lives.
She said: “They have damaged the roof causing leaks in the flats below. We often call the police.
"I know how frustrating and worrying it is.”
There is a skate park just a few hundred yards away from Brunch at Pencester Gardens.
But Tony Searle commented: “Perfectly good skate park but these kids won’t be happy 'til they fall off or through a roof then someone will be looking to blame the property owner."
Police said they received a report of young people causing a nuisance on the roof of a building in Biggin Street Dover on Sunday at around 2.40pm.
The say the group of suspected teenagers had left the scene just before they arrived.
Sgt Benjamin Norbury from the Dover Community Safety Unit said: “We take calls like this extremely seriously.
“It is not only dangerous but disruptive to people working and shopping in the town, and anyone trespassing or causing criminal damage risks being arrested.
“We would urge anyone who witnesses this type of anti-social behaviour in the town to report it to us immediately by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.
“In the meantime our local officers, including our dedicated town centre police officer, will be making enquiries regarding this reported incident.”
Anyone with information is urged to call police on 01843 222289, quoting the reference number 09-0886.
