Summary
Amid data that suggests Gloucester is continuing to be a hotspot for crime in the county, security measures for the empty Lloyds building in Barnwood have been dramatically beefed up, with dozens of large concrete blocks suddenly deployed at the former banking HQ. The move follows ongoing fears among nearby residents that the address may be a soft target for criminals.
Details
Punchline-Gloucester.com understands that amid an ongoing sale process, the address is seen as a target for thieves and has been the subject of frequent complaints over false intruder alarms. Focus on the building grew back in Halloween 2024 when Punchline broke the exclusive story on Lloyds’ decision to quit the site, upping sticks to existing space in offices in the centre of Bristol.
Punchline has also been informed of a theft incident at the building in recent days and is seeking confirmation from Gloucestershire police.
Meanwhile, it has also emerged that a recent high-profile attempt to enter the building by a popular YouTube channel that focuses on exploring empty and abandoned urban settings was quickly foiled when teams of armed police swooped on the would-be intruders – and stopped them in their tracks.
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Video on social media from the team who run Urban.xplores showed how three detachments of officers moved in on the intruders while they were in the process of seeking a weak point that would give them access to the interior of the building which was custom-built in 1990 for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society.
“We just attempted to explore this abandoned Lloyds headquarters – we have three armed response units turned up,” the presenter said in a video to fans, adding: “Red dots pointed on us for the tasers, ordered to the ground… what a building, but no access unfortunately!” He added that the team did manage to try all the doors but that their visit had caused no damage and achieved no more than a “perimeter check”.
According to latest crimerate.co.uk , collated data on incidents attests that Gloucester and Cheltenham continue to experience higher crime rates than elsewhere, “recording higher volumes of violence, sexual offences, and anti-social behaviour relative to the rest of the county”.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester
