The report of the harrowing experience suffered by Joyce Hailey, the blind pensioner tied to a chair and robbed (Argus, August 29), illustrates once again that builders, scaffolders and surveyors do not pay enough attention to security.

About two years ago, a property where I have a flat required new windows and repointing. The scaffolder left boards and ladders propped against walls overnight, encouraging criminals to gain access to the garden and basement flat.

When I pointed this out to the supervising surveyor, he wrote saying "there is no simple answer to this other than vigilance on the part of the occupiers".

He could not grasp the fact that prevention is better than cure.

-W. Edwards, Second Avenue, Hove