Deel Bosschenaren feels unsafe due to roofers’ war: ‘I am scared’

The roofer war was a reason for Omroep Brabant to conduct a study together with Kieskompas among residents of the municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. After more than half a year, in which more than 25 explosions and fires have been in the Brabant capital, the shock is good at Bosschenaren. For example, a resident says: “The explosions are so enormously intense that I am afraid that the windows will fold out with me.”

Fear of new attacks
More than a quarter of the inhabitants feel less safe due to the attacks. This group lives especially in neighborhoods where the attacks take place, such as the Hambaken, Kruiskamp and Maaspoort. Residents from quieter parts of the municipality, such as the center and villages in the municipality, do not feel less safe and have little trouble with the roofing war.

Bosschenaren brands unrest, worries and fear among themselves and fellow citizens. “In the evening and at night, there are sometimes vans of roofers parked in my neighborhood that were not there before,” says a resident. And that causes fear and extra alertness.

For example, the fear of new attacks is great, the research shows. A quarter of the people of Bosschen is afraid of new attacks and one in seven is afraid of becoming a victim of the roofer war (unintentionally).

Cameras and fire extinguishers
Bosschenaren are taking measures to prevent them from becoming a victim of the conflict. For example, one in three inhabitants no longer park their car near a roofer bus. “I no longer park my car next to a roofer bus and only park under lampposts,” writes a resident, who has seen a roofing bus burn out in his neighborhood.

It is a reaction that often returns to the study. For example, a resident writes that his neighbors are the roofer: “I asked them if they would no longer want to park their van in our street. They have responded to that. ”

Furthermore, a smaller part, one in twenty inhabitants, says that they have installed cameras and alarm systems due to the unrest in the roofing world. Other measures have also been taken. “I have purchased a fire extinguisher, put flashlight next to the bed and tested the escape routes,” says a Bosschenaar. Another adds: “I am also more alert when I walk around in the neighborhood.”

Trust in Bossche roofers
Due to the roofers’ war, roofers from Den Bosch are no longer familiar. For example, only a quarter of the inhabitants still hire a roofer from the city. Four out of ten respondents even refuse a Bossche roofer. “I no longer wish to get them at the door. It starts with cleaning the gutter and ends with the roof to be renewed. Bunch of sweetheart. ”

The sense of safety and trust in roofers is falling due to the more than 25 attacks at roofers, but also due to other practices around roofers. “Every day there is a roofing bus next to my house and drugs are being dealt with openly,” writes a resident. Another responds: “There are four to seven roofers cars in front of my door every day. That attracts ‘dark’ types and they are often busy well into the night. With what? ”

And that ‘dark’ image describe more respondents. “With us on the dike and next to my girlfriend, roofers who both deal in drugs and we notice everything. That’s how the windows were shot at once. I am always afraid that this is not done enough by the police, “says a Bosschenaar.

Worry about a sense of safety
In a reaction, the Bossche mayor Jack Mikkers says: “If you see that an explosion can be regretted in the municipality almost daily, I can imagine that the sense of safety of Bosschenaren has been seriously affected. I’m worried about that. “

He wants to do something about it. “To be connected to society,” says Mikkers. “To set up neighborhood tents, start a conversation with neighborhood managers and neighborhood agents. I have also been there a number of times to talk to people. To hear where the worries are, because those worries are justified.”

“Every explosion has consequences for a neighborhood, a neighborhood and the feeling of safety. You want to be able to live safely in your street. Even if it happens a few doors away, you are still a victim, perhaps not physically, but mentally, “says Mayor Mikkers.