New Jersey Family Living In London Frightened By Riots

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A former New Jersey man who now lives in suburban London with his wife and infant son says violence plaguing the city is unsettling.

Richard Spooner and his wife, Jennifer Nettles, live in the Notting Hill neighborhood of London.

The Garden State native (he's from Essex County), says the rioting has forced businesses to close early and restaurants and stores owners to board up their establishments.

Spooner says authorities blame the violence on groups of young people.

"And I think it's just wayward youth with nothing better to do and lack of guidance at home."

His wife, Jennifer, says an increased police presence in the couple's neighborhood is noticeable.

"In Notting Hill, a lot of the streets are quite small and it doesn't take much for a mob of 20 or 30 to cause a lot of damage in a very short amount of time. And that's sort of the big fear if they happen to turn on your street, what could happen."

Jennifer says the violence got a little close when a shoe store within blocks of the couple's apartment was ransacked the other night.

Reported by Mark Abrams, KYW Newsradio 1060