The Great Window Cleaning Heist

The pair disguised themselves as window cleaners when they went on heists.

Jail for burglars who posed as window cleaners to raid London offices: A pair of bogus window cleaners who ransacked central London businesses stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods have been sent to prison. Robert Smythe, 54, of Dufferin Street EC1 and Tony Dudley, 40, of Horatio Street were jailed for conspiracy to commit burglary at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty at a previous hearing. Both men were sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment.

The duo targeted office buildings in and around London in the early hours of the morning, donning hi-visibility work-wear, and driving a van full of window cleaning equipment as a front for their illegal activities. The burglars forced their way into the buildings by using crowbars and other tools, and also used their ladders to climb up to windows above ground level to gain entry. Once inside, they searched the offices stealing numerous items including computers and IT equipment.

The burglary spree cost businesses in excess of £100,000 in stolen property and damage, with the reported value of the stolen goods at £70,786.46 and the bill for damage caused totalling £34,260.88.

The pair were caught following a burglary committed on October 1 in Mercer Street, Covent Garden.

Two uniformed officers, who had been tasked to arrest the men, stopped their van late on the evening of October 15 after the pair had just left Smythe's home. In the van they found hi-visibility jackets with the words "Fire Warden" on them and hi-visibility gloves, crow bars, angle grinders and bolt croppers. 

Jailed for window-cleaner burglaries... Tony Dudley (left) and Robert Smythe.

Smythe told police the equipment was for the window cleaning jobs the pair were carrying out, and to back this up, they had a "token" bucket of dirty water and squeegee in the back of the van. The men were arrested, and detectives were then able to link the pair to similar audacious burglaries carried out over the past year in surrounding London boroughs. Using DNA taken from Smythe, CCTV images of the burglaries being committed and vehicles used and number plate recognition techniques, detectives were able to link the pair to 23 separate burglary offences between June and October.

They were charged with Conspiracy to Burgle on October 17 and have been remanded in custody ever since. DC Tony Holley, the officer in the case for Westminster CID, said: "This was a prolific series of burglaries by Smythe and Dudley across London. "Smythe and Dudley were very presise in their criminal activities, operating in a methodical manner by intentionally appearing as legitimate overnight window cleaners then breaking in and calmly and thoroughly ransacking the offices. "Many people think that crimes against businesses are victimless but some of these businesses are small with very tight margins and this sort of crime can be the difference between them succeeding and going under."

A Window Washing Service To Rob People

Kevin Rhyner, A Window Washing Service To Rob People.

Window washer arrested in Fresno, Clovis: A 52-year-old Fresno man who used his window-washing business to steal from clients' homes was arrested Thursday, Clovis police said. Kevin Rhyner, owner of All-Pro Cleaning Service, is suspected of stealing tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry and other items from customers' homes, police spokeswoman Janet Stoll-Lee said. He was arrested on seven counts of grand theft and nine counts of residential burglary after stealing from four Clovis homes and five Fresno homes going back to January of last year. All the victims, who at one time hired Rhyner to wash windows, clean grout, clean carpets and more, identified him as the suspect who stole their belongings, Stoll-Lee said. Police are still searching for any potential victims who have not yet come forward. Anyone who may be a victim should call (559) 324-2493.

Cleaning Service Owner Accused of Stealing Jewelry: 52-year old Kevin Rhyner is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. It's a trend that began at the beginning of 2012.  Clovis Police noticed a common denominator in all of the thefts was that All-Pro Cleaning Service had been at each home.  All of the victims are now thankful they've taken Kevin Rhyner out of the business community. “This man was just a pro at being convincing that he was an honest person,” said Sandy Moore, a robbery victim.

Sandy Moore is speaking about Kevin Rhyner.  The owner of all-pro cleaning service whom she hired to shampoo her carpets last year.  In addition to doing that job, Rhyner allegedly stole $25,000 worth of fine jewelry from her bedroom. “He actually replaced it with other things so you don't notice it's gone,” said Moore. Replaced it with cheap costume jewelry.  Once Moore realized what happened she confronted Rhyner, but he denied any wrongdoing. “But we could tell by the way he responded to our questions that he was lying,” said Moore.

Police say Rhyner stole gold, precious stones and irreplaceable heirlooms from a total of nine homeowners in Clovis and Fresno. “The thing is in this case every single victim actually positively identified the suspect in a photo lineup,” said Janet Stoll-Lee of the Clovis Police Dept. Trust is important when it comes to letting service workers into your house.  So it's a good idea to get references from friends or family.  You can also research their ratings through the better business bureau. “Our ratings are determined by what kind of license they have, what kind of previous experience consumers have had with them.  If they've had complaints and their length of time in business,” said Blair Looney of the Better Business Bureau.

Ken Davis of Crystal Clear Window Cleaning has been in business since 1984.  He was upset to hear about this arrest. “It makes us all look bad and it shouldn't because most people who are in this business are very trustworthy and reliable and every once in a while you get a bad apple,” said Ken Davis of Crystal Clear Window Cleaning. Police believe Rhyner may have ripped off even more people and also dealt with local pawn shops. If you fall into either of these categories, call the Clovis Police Department at (559) 324-2493.

Man allegedly uses window washing service to rob people: FRESNO, Calif. -  He used his window washing service to rob people. That's what investigators are saying about 52-year-old Kevin Rhyner. He's in jail Thursday night on grand theft charges.

Police have been on this case for more than a year and thus far there have been nine cases in both Clovis and Fresno. Thursday night, a number of his alleged victims said they are happy he is here in jail, but worried that their family heirlooms will never be recovered. "I'm happy no one else is going to be a victim," said Sandy Moore. Moore, a local realtor and victim, met Kevin Rhyner, about three years ago and hired him to clean vacant properties. But then one day, she says Rhyner offered to clean her home for free. She took him up on the offer and told us it was not until much later that she realized some of her things were missing. Sandy Moore said, "Family pieces. Diamond rings from my mother, it's not that I wore them, but you feel violated and robs me of the opportunity to give it to somebody else."

Janet Stoll-Lee with the Clovis Police Department said, "He went into homes to do window washing, grout cleaning, carpet cleaning and would walk out with expensive jewelry." We found out Rhyner was convicted in Sacramento County for the same crime and is currently on probation. Moore says after all that has happened she keeps a fake jewelry box in case there is a break-in. She also has security cameras, an alarm system, and wants to warn others not to set up spontaneous appointments, and should do a serious background check before you let just anyone into your home. Police believe there are more victims out there& they are hoping those people will come forward.

Window Cleaning News

English humour from Harry Hill, 48, Comedian. My house is nicer than my old one. I moved because a window cleaner knocked at my door and said: "Oh, you! I thought you'd have a better house than this."

Window Cleaner Bill Tyler with daughters Leah, Jodie and Amy and the Christmas light display.

Chingford father's Christmas effort for daughters; A father has created a festive wonderland in his garden for his young daughters to enjoy. Bill Tyler, 43, of Friday Hill, Chingford, has Father Christmas disappearing down the chimney, as well as Bart and Homer Simpson building a snowman in his front garden. There is also a train on the roof and around a thousand lights to wow daughters , 15, Kayleigh, 12, Amy, 8, and Leah, 4. Mr Tyler said: “I’ve always loved Christmas and I want to make an effort for my daughters because they grow up so fast. “They love it and their friends love it as well.” The Christmas scene takes Mr Tyler three days to put up and it is lit up between 3.45pm and 7pm every day. He added: “The neighbours think it’s great. I’ve done it every year for the last four or five and we do a round of Chingford in the car as well to see other people’s decorations.”

Pakistan cricketer drinks soap solution, out of danger: Captain of the Pakistan cricket team for the blind Zeeshan Abbasi, 30, was admitted to the M.S. Ramaiah Hospital here on Saturday morning after he consumed ‘diluted soap solution’ kept on the breakfast table mistaking it for drinking water. The partially blind cricketer was discharged in the evening after an endoscopy showed he was normal. The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), in a release, said it accepted the apology tendered by Moevenpick Hotel and Spa, where the team is staying. “The administration of PBCC, in the better interest of cricket and to fasten the relationship between the two countries, accepted the apology of the hotel administration.” Pakistani manager Bilal Satti said the team considered that the “matter is resolved.” Earlier, a controversy arose after a statement by the team management that Mr. Abbasi was “served cleaning acid,” sparked apprehensions that the team, which had thumped India by eight wickets the previous day, was targeted by miscreants.

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Satti had said: “We arrived at 7 a.m. for breakfast in the hotel – these water bottles were the brand we have been using throughout our visit. It appears that there was some cleaning acid in the bottle. It so happened that the captain drank it. He spat out the liquid when he realised that it was not water.” Due to play against Bangladesh in a league match on Saturday as part of the ongoing T20 World Cup for the Blind, Mr. Abbasi proceeded to the venue with the rest of the team. However, he complained of soreness in the throat and the team management rushed him to hospital. Naresh Shetty, president of the hospital, said the liquid “was not acid” as it was initially feared by the team management. The hospital in a statement said the solution could be either diluted phenyl or soapwater. The management apologised for the incident and said the liquid was soap detergent meant to clean windowpanes. The hotel said the diluted soap solution bottle was erroneously left on the table by the banquet team member and his services, along with that of his supervisor, were terminated. Mr. Abbasi said his health was fine and he was looking forward to leading Pakistan in its remaining matches.

New Social Entrepreneurs: One in a hundred adults is incarcerated in America. “That’s an economic, social, and moral problem,” says Baillie Aaron. “And when people are released from prison, few employers will hire them—regardless of their crime. The consequences of this reality really fired me up to want to make a change.” Such zeal, and a deep desire to help people “reach their potential,” led her to found Massachusetts-based Venturing Out Inc., which runs a 10-week course on entrepreneurship for inmates. Since 2010, 227 men and women have completed the course: many are now running businesses such as church-window washing, online talent recruitment, and chemical-free landscaping. “It’s not a therapy or counseling program, nor does it focus on improving weaknesses,” Aaron adds. “We assume people are resourceful and capable, and teach them how to apply their existing skills to become economically self-sufficient.” The idea behind Venturing Out came [after graduation] when Aaron, then a research assistant at the Kennedy School’s Program in Criminal Justice, was tutoring a young man at Boston’s Suffolk County House of Correction. She noticed not only his ability to work hard but also his keen business sense—a trait shared by many prisoners, albeit often gained through illegal activities. “I saw an untapped market” for transferring those skills, she recalls, and entrepreneurial aims that were “highly achievable.”

Thousands in Southwest Florida try business ownership: In Lee County, popular startups from 2007 to October 2012 were in miscellaneous maintenance or repair, janitorial service and retail sales. During that time frame, 2,464, or 7.2 percent, of startups were for miscellaneous maintenance of repair. Startups for janitorial service were at 2,297, or 6.7 percent, and retail sales had 1,804, 5.3 percent. Collier County didn’t have similar data. But from July 1 to Dec. 3, the most-held active license category was retail sales with 1,836 licenses. It was followed by maintenance service/no contractor work at 1,752 and restaurant at 1,614.

Johnson said maintenance and janitorial-type jobs were popular during the recession because they required little up-front costs. After losing a job, people want a low-cost business. Washing windows, for example, only requires a bucket and a squeegee. “It’s inexpensive and you don’t have to go to the bank,” he said. “You can get into business by using your credit card.” And although the number of occupational licenses declined, it doesn’t mean people weren’t opening successful businesses.

Teen wins award for robot: A groundbreaking window-cleaning robot has won an Auckland teenager an international award. Sohail Abdulla, 17, from Mt Roskill Grammar School began inventing a robotic window cleaner for his father who suffers back and knee pain. But judges at the Genesis Energy Realise the Dream event thought his device had more merit than just as a handy tool for Abdulla's dad and tonight he was awarded the inaugural American Ambassador Outstanding Award.

They were particularly impressed with Abdulla's understanding of the engineering research and development process through to testing a prototype. Abdulla has been offered an all expenses paid trip to participate at the INTEL Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2013. The fair is the biggest of its type in the world with over 1500 participants from around the globe showcasing their science research and innovations. Abdulla has spent the last week at Realise the Dream, a national event which rewards 20 students for their science research or engineering.

Winbot is a Window Cleaning Machine: Seriously, its a machine that cleans your windows. Hands-free design, in the vein of the carpet-vac Roomba, Winbot affixes itself to your window and propels itself forward, cleaning whatever scuffs, dust, fingerprints, debris, etc. that is in its path. Compared to other window cleaning techniques, Winbot sweeps the competition. (I’m sorry, couldn’t help it.) Ecovacs has set out to create the most user-friendly and easiest way to clean windows. With Winbot, I think they’ve done just that. Their advertisement features a cute tag: “Clings like a gecko; cleans like a champion.”

Using reusable cleaning pads and a cleaning solution, the Winbot suctions itself to the window as a light turns on. First, the device measures the best method of cleaning and then begins a zig zag pattern, covering every inch of the window. The rear of the Winbot features a squeegee, which after the pads have moistened the glass, cleans the surface before a dry pad absorbs any residual cleaning solution. When finished, the machine sets off an air release trigger to disengage Winbot from the glass surface. The fantastic hands-free window cleaner will debut at the 2013 (Las Vegas) CES in January — the same event where Ecovacs presented the beta version last year.

Robots should be cleaning your home: Internet entrepreneurs like Elon Musk are now investing in spaceflight. Why are you putting $25 million into robots? "There are a lot of tasks they can help with. Telepresence robots bring opportunities for doctors, travellers and business people. There are also domestic robots that can do a lot of stuff that is difficult or not interesting. If you look around, you see how many repetitious tasks people are doing that it would be much better for a robot to do: cleaning the house, washing a window, bringing something to your home."

Europeans buy fewer household lines to afford food, finds SymphonyIRI: Latest Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry research from SymphonyIRI Group highlights the extent of the pressure some of the biggest non-food brand owners are under to meet their growth projections as price inflation continues to outstrip wage growth and real incomes are squeezed. In SymphonyIRI’s Retailer Private Label in Europe report released last week, private label is doing particularly well in the household category and challenging national brands as shoppers become more reluctant to pay for top names. This is particularly true in glass/window cleaners, dishwashing and hand dishwashing and household cleaners.

Tributes paid to brave ex-soldier: A brave soldier who survived of a terrorist attack nearly 60 years ago has died at the age of 77. Stan Taylor, of Windhill Road Eastmoor, died peacefully on December 3 after a short illness.  He was only 19 when he lost a leg in an ambush while performing his National Service in Malaya in 1955. The dad-of-four went on to work as a window cleaner in the well known Taylor brothers’ firm despite his injury and also enjoyed a career with Slazenger Sports in Horbury and as a caretaker at his old school, St Austin’s on Back Duke of York Street. Even after he retired Mr Taylor did voluntary work for the British Limbless ex Servicemen Association which saw him visit and deliver parcels to war widows. Wife Jean Taylor, 78, said: “That was his life - to overcome his handicap.” Mr Taylor is survived by his wife, four children, 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His funeral was held at Wakefield Crematorium on Wednesday.

Window cleaners preyed upon man with memory loss: Two window cleaners preyed on an elderly man, stealing a laptop containing the only photographs he had of his dead son. Joe Tate (right), 22, and David Bradley (left), 27, have been jailed for targeting the man, who had suffered a brain haemorrhage. In a victim impact statement read out at Hull Crown Court, the man's wife said: "They targeted my husband on one of the few occasions I went out and was not with him. "I remember speaking to them both previously about his illness. "We both feel cheated by this offence. We feel they deliberately targeted us."

Knowing the man suffered memory problems, Tate and Bradley had waited for the man's wife to leave before knocking on the door of the couple's house in Bransholme. They had gone to his home to ask if he wanted his windows cleaned, even though they had only done them just two days earlier. Bradley noticed the laptop sitting on the table before he was told by the man to come back when his wife was home. Tate then knocked on the front door, asking if the man wanted his gutters cleaning, giving Bradley the opportunity to break in through the back door and steal the computer. Bradley sent Tate a text saying "Bang Now" to distract the victim.

The pair made off with the computer, worth £479, which contained photographs of the couple's son, who had died. They both pleaded guilty to the burglary on July 5 after they were caught when neighbours reported them to police. Detectives discovered the text message on Tate's phone, which had been sent seconds before the burglary happened. Tate has a previous conviction for a distraction burglary.

Judge Simon Jack said: "It was an extremely mean offence, committed against a very vulnerable man at a time when his full-time carer, his wife, was away. "It caused a significant degree of sentimental loss to the victim. The material on the computer was irreplaceable. "This is a case where the victim was deliberately targeted because of his vulnerability. "You had been told by his wife of his difficulties which involved his memory loss and that made him an easy target. You picked a time when his carer was away and I'm satisfied this was not a coincidence. The two of you worked together to distract him to steal his laptop. "There was a significant degree of planning and organisation." Tate, of Borthwick Close, Bransholme, has been jailed for three and a half years and Bradley, of Blackhope Close, Bransholme, has been jailed for two years and four months. Tate has 10 previous convictions including burglary convictions.

Sci-Fi items stolen during Telford house burglary: Thieves broke into the property sometime between 11.45am and 3.10pm by smashing a window in the patio doors at the back with a brick. Once inside the property, the thieves carried out a thorough, untidy search of the property before stealing a number of items and making their escape. Among the items stolen were a wedding ring, a number of antique Star Wars models worth around £200 and some Star Trek magazines. In addition, around £450 in cash was also stolen as a result of this break-in. A police spokesman said: “The victim – a lady in her 60s – has been left devastated by the break-in as the stolen items are of great sentimental value to her. “She has no idea who broke into her home but she did receive a visit from an unknown man offering window cleaning services a short time before she went out yesterday morning. “Officers investigating this incident would like to speak to anyone who may have information about it and are especially keen to speak to the man who offered his services as a window cleaner so they can establish exactly who he is. “Anyone with information about this burglary is asked to contact police in Telford on 101 or 0300 333 3000, quoting reference number 390S 101212.

Our good friend the former convict: Kathy Curran always checks the doors and windows before leaving her smart home just north of London. "I know all about security," she laughs. "I've been trained by the best." By the best, she means Brian, a career criminal who has spent nearly 30 years inside. She and Brian have formed an unlikely but remarkable alliance over the past eight years. It has culminated in his looking after her children and even going on holiday with her and her husband. Kathy, a criminologist with a doctorate from Cambridge, specialises in the rehabilitation of repeat offenders. A brief spell in the Probation Service convinced her this wasn't the way to build up trust and really make a difference. She says you need to spend time with people, have a drink and a chat in the pub, take them shopping. "Once you've established trust, people are more receptive and more likely to listen to advice." The theory is one thing, but inviting a criminal into your home is quite another. "Getting that first job is key," she continues, "but in reality no one wants to employ an ex-offender. That's why I decided to do just that."

Determined to practise what she preached, she visited New Life, an organisation (now sadly defunct due to lack of funding) that helped former prisoners to learn the skills they'd need to gain employment. It was here that she first met Brian (not his real name). Eight years later , she's never looked back. "He was very smartly dressed in a matching suit and tie, with polished shoes and slicked-back hair. But he looked really nervous, too," she recalls. "I told him I wanted him to come and paint the outside of my house." "This was my first chance to earn clean money," Brian chips in. "I'd had it drummed into me that if I worked and paid taxes, I was a mug. Going out to earn money, before, meant I never knew if I'd make it home in the evening. So I felt utter relief when Kathy offered me this chance and I grabbed it with both hands."Brian, now 50, reels off an impressive A-to-Z of his past offences – shoplifting, fraud, drug dealing, armed robbery ("just till money"), and "creeping". For the uninitiated, this is when you dress up as a window cleaner, for example, go into a commercial property and pilfer from people's coats and desks.

Detective Constable Lloyd Davies of West Mercia Police said: "If neighbours see anything suspicious, such as strangers in back gardens or loitering outside homes, or hear glass breaking or an alarm sounding, it is vital they contact us immediately, preferably with descriptions of potential offenders and any vehicles they are using. "Sometimes we get calls about people hanging around outside houses and it turns out they are looking for a lost pet or we are alerted to people climbing over garages with ladders who genuinely are window cleaners. "Anyone who rings a suspicious incident into the police with good intent need not worry about wasting our time, and with Christmas approaching and people likely to be out more or going away for a few days we urge everyone to be good neighbours and keep an eye on each other's homes.

Window Genie of Fort Worth will Give Up to $500 to The Salvation Army in Exchange for Facebook “Likes” - Chuck Street and his crew at Window Genie promise to give $1 to The Salvation Army for each “like” they receive on Facebook through December 27th. Those in the Dallas/Fort Worth area are urged to help Window Genie give back this holiday season. They hope to raise awareness for not only their brand but The Salvation Army ARC Adult Rehabilitation Center in Fort Worth. Street promises those in the community that if they “like” the Window Genie Forth Worth Facebook page he will give $1 on their behalf to The Salvation Army. His goal is to be able to give $500.

Chicago-Area Business to Give Away 400 Boxes of Twinkies for Holidays: The giveaway is limited to one box per person and will continue until all 400 boxes (or available takers) run out. In the wake of Hostess’ bankruptcy troubles, Cherry Logistics was able to obtain a 400-box cache of the now-endangered dessert. Company owner Michael Healy thought the best way to enjoy the prize was to give it away in the holiday spirit. “This is our way to wish our neighbors and guests here in Chicagoland a happy holiday season and pay tribute to the passing of some truly iconic junk food at the same time,” said Healy. “We welcome any and all to stop by, grab a box on us, and say hello.”

Cherry Logistics, Inc., headquartered in North Aurora, IL, was founded in 2003 as a snow removal service. Since that time the company has become a premier provider of consolidated facilities maintenance services including window washing.

Mayor Risks Becoming Scrooge In O’Hare Labor Controversy: Did you hear those Christmas carols at Mayor Emanuel’s home, sung about the janitors at O’Hare? The floor-washers, window-wipers, the toilet-scrubbers at O’Hare, caroling for their salaries, walking in the dark and cold, pleading with Mr. Mayor to save their jobs. Please, they sing, don’t pink-slip us, not now, sir, not before Christmas. Do you hear them, Mr. Mayor? Are you listening to the pleas of 300 janitors being fired before Christmas, so that you can hire new janitors for less pay, so that you can save $11 million in your $8 billion budget? Minority janitors, immigrant janitors who have followed their dreams to the middle class in Chicago, working jobs that most people don’t want, for $12 or $13 an hour — being knocked down to the bottom class. To save a few million out of $8 billion? That’s not being Mr. Mayor at Christmas. It’s being Mr. Scrooge. Also here & here.

Broadway faces potential holiday labor headache (New York) - The union representing hundreds of Broadway theater cleaners, porters, elevator operators and bathroom attendants voted Wednesday to authorize its leaders to call a strike if a new contract isn't approved by the end of the month, potentially throwing a wrench into a busy holiday season. Members of the 250-person 32BJ union voted during a noisy rally on the street outside the Times Square offices of the Broadway League, which represents producers and theater owners. They stood in the cold and heard speakers blast Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up," ''Family Affair" by Sly & The Family Stone and Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind." Any strike would affect workers at 32 of Broadway's 40 theaters where the 32BJ has a contract, meaning all the Shubert, Nederlander and Jujamcyn-owned theaters, as well as the Circle in the Square Theatre. The eight other Broadway theaters have different arrangements. The 32BJ, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, has more than 120,000 members, concentrated in the Northeast. It represents janitors, property maintenance workers, doormen, security officers, window cleaners and food service workers. Also here & here.

Documentary shorts: Also with an editorial pedigree is Nadav Kurtz who continues as an accomplished editor at Cutters. He made his directorial debut with Paraiso, which recently made the Oscar Short Subject Documentary shortlist. Paraiso tells the story of Chicago high-rise window washers, many of whom are immigrants, most coming from a small town in Mexico. "The film," related Kurtz, "explores why they have chosen this occupation, what their spiritual beliefs are given that they face their own mortality on a daily basis, and what they see inside those buildings, which lends itself to several funny stories."

Paraiso was co-produced by Kurtz's The Strangebird Company and Dictionary Films, which is part of the Cutters' family of shops. Kurtz noted that he would have never been able to bring the short film to fruition without the production resources of Dictionary and post support from Cutters. Kurtz continues to edit spots via Cutters, adding to credits that include collaborations with such directors as Tony Kaye (Blue Cross/Blue Shield), Vincent Haycock (Absolut), Sean Thonson (Central Dupage Hospital) and Jordan Brady (Chicago Crystal Meth Task Force). Kurtz is now also on the lookout for select shorts and other artistic projects he can direct.

Window Cleaning News

Residents in Moab, Utah have started a petition to have Negro Bill Canyon renamed because they are embarrassed by the name.

Utah man starts online petition to change name of Negro Bill Canyon (Salt Lake City) - Moab resident Louis Williams (pictured) cringes every time he tells visitors the name of the canyon with the great hike to a stunning arch: Negro Bill Canyon. Williams, a window cleaner who has lived in Moab for 14 years, is leading a renewed campaign to change the name of the Southern Utah canyon that he and others believe is inappropriate. He has posted an online petition that has garnered more than 600 signatures and plans to submit a formal renaming application to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names. "People cringe when we have to tell the name of it. The looks on their face is: 'What did you just say?'" Williams said. "People ask. 'Why is it named that?' They don't ask who he is." 

He wants it to bear the last name of the black cowboy who ran cattle there in the 1870s, William Granstaff. The canyon name has already been changed in the 1960s to "Negro Bill Canyon" from a name that featured a derogatory word. He said he has dug up history that shows Granstaff's name was actually spelled with a "d'' after the "n." That's why he wants it renamed as Grandstaff Canyon. "Most of the places and streets and trails that were named after settlers just used their last names," Williams said. "That is what we should do for him."
Even though efforts in the late 1990s and 2000s to change the canyon name were met by resistance from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Williams is optimistic the idea will gain more traction this time. His campaign is one of dozens across the country to rename canyons, reservoirs, lakes and other places still bearing names deemed derogatory. There are 757 places with "negro" in the name from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California, according to an analysis of government records. But the president of the NAACP's Salt Lake City chapter, Jeanetta Williams, said her organization opposes the name change just as it did when others tried to make the switch.

Condominium corporations in Ontario are not permitted to fine owners who breach the condominium documents. Fines are, however, permitted in many U.S. states and also in British Columbia. A recent case in British Columbia, Strata Plan LMS4255 v. Steven Newell, illustrates that fines may not be effective in getting a unit owner to cease breaching the condominium documents. In this case, the unit owner of a penthouse suite with an exclusive use balcony and roof deck above the unit, spent more than $800,000 on renovations, which included the installation of a hot tub, barbecue and entertainment system (TV and wall-mounted speakers) on his exclusive-use deck. Sounds like one of those bachelor pads that many of us have seen in the movies. After completing the renovations, the owner hosted many noisy parties that lasted until the wee hours of the morning.

In addition to the noise issues, the Strata Corporation took the position that the installation of the hot tub was an unauthorized installation and thus, should be removed. (The owner had previously asked for consent to install the hot tub, which was declined by the Corporation. Despite this, the hot tub was installed.) The Strata Corporation had failed its fall protection equipment inspection, as the location of the hot tub impeded the usage of two anchors required for proper window washing procedures. The Strata Corporation brought an application against the unit owner, as well as John Doe and Jane Doe and other persons unknown. This was done so that any court order would also be binding on all the attendees at the unit owner’s parties.

Cronin: 5 million jobs on track (South Africa): Public Works Deputy Minister Jeremy Cronin believes the government is on track to meet its target of creating five million job opportunities by 2014. According to Cronin, the government has created 2.6 million job opportunities in the past three and a half years through infrastructure projects. Cronin was addressing delegates at the department’s third Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) summit in Pretoria. Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Qedani Mahlangu urged other municipalities to look at Tshwane as an example of how jobs could be created while also creating a clean environment for the benefit of residents and communities.

She suggested that such jobs should be expanded to include window-cleaning and the upkeep of buildings in city centres – a model in use in countries in Europe and Asia. “We should look at creating these jobs but, more important, we should help those getting the jobs… to create co-operatives and manage and run the cleaning projects. “I’m urging municipalities to ensure that locals are employed in the projects, and not have a situation where a contractor comes into a province but has employed people from elsewhere.” A requirement for awarding the contracts should be the employment of locals, as should buying building materials from local hardware stores. “This way the money comes into the local community,” said Mahlangu.

Jobs Few People Want - High-Rise Window Washer: A job that is definitely not for the faint of heart that has an abundance of openings is high-rise window washer. Finding solid applicants for this position is not as simple as a retail or office job. The applicant must be comfortable working at staggering heights, deal with inclement weather and feel secure in a job where a lot of accidents occur. According to an article released by thefiscaltimes.com, eight people are injured every year in New York City alone, and 75 high rise window washers have died between the years 1983 and 2008. While the risks are clear, the benefits come in the form of a solid salary. High-rise window washers make on average $14 to $19 an hour. However, this can increase depending on your contract bids. Window washers make bids on contracts for various companies and they can accept as many or as few as they'd like. By being an independent contractor, high-rise window washers can determine the amount they want to bring in.

A new online tool from the soda giant tells you precisely how much exercise or housework it will take to work off that sugary beverage you just drank. Get ready: You’re going to be vacuuming for a while. Since the enactment of Obamacare, we’ve become used to calorie counts (restaurant chains with more than 20 outlets must have them). But Coke’s Calculator goes further. Not only do you get the counts, you also get a read-out on the exercise you’ll need to do afterwards to wash away the effects of the calories you’ve consumed.

A classic red-and-white can (139 calories) equates to 51 minutes of vacuuming, 21 minutes of lawn-mowing, 34 minutes of table tennis, or 17 minutes of Zumba. A 12-ounce regular soda contains 8 teaspoons of sugar.

If Sprite’s your thing (144 calories) you’ll need 13 minutes of circuit training, 41 minutes of window cleaning, or 33 minutes of pilates. And so on. There are even suggestions for when you drink a Slimline Tonic (no mention of the gin), or one of Glaceau’s "enhanced" waters (12 minutes of ping pong for a "Vitamin Water Power C"). The calculator is currently only on Coca Cola’s U.K. site--though, presumably, the calculations apply wherever its products are sold, and wherever there’s window-cleaning to be done.

Massachusetts-based All Access Equipment, the North American distributor of CMC Narrow Access Compact Crawler Lifts, has opened a new facility. Marketed and sold under Crawerlifts, the facility is located at 891 Woburn St., Wilmington, MA. It offers customers the ability to view all Crawlerlifts models available from All Access and receive demonstrations of the equipment in action. The new facility also provides extra space for training, servicing and a full warehouse of in-stock parts to meet the demands of the lift industry.

The company chose to combine its office and warehouse into a larger single facility to better serve their customers, and the new location’s close proximity to major highways provides for speed and convenience in sales and service, the company said in a statement. In a statement, the company said, "Crawlerlifts are the next generation narrow access lifts, built heavy duty and rugged for demanding industries such as tree services, window cleaning, painters, electricians, roofing, facilities maintenance and rental stores. Available popular lift sizes range from 50 to 105 feet working height. Crawlerlifts are light and nimble, and capable of entering 36-inch doors and gates."

Dubai-bound Leeds duo putting work first: Both men have had to take a week off work to fulfil their 7s commitments – Steve Morton from his role as an enforcement officer for Leeds City Council and Chris Peach (pictured right) taking a break from his window cleaning business, which he runs alongside cousin David Peach, also 35. He, too, was a Dubai 7s candidate until injury struck, something Peach knows all too well about having broken his neck during his playing days. “My cousin played in the trial game and broke his leg, otherwise he’d have been in with a shout of going over as well,” said Peach.“He’s just come out of the pot,” But they insist that their upcoming venture to the Dubai Rugby 7s is no holiday, well, almost. Morton, of Bramley, and Peach, of Morley, are the sole Leeds representatives selected to play for the British Amateur Rugby League Association’s BARLA Bulldogs international veterans squad.

Healthy young nursery worker has double mastectomy after finding she has breast cancer gene: Fiona Luscombe, 23, had the operation after discovering she has the gene that killed her mother and grandfather. Fiona Luscombe has had a double mastectomy after both her mother and grandfather died following a battle with breast cancer. The 23-year-old had elective surgery to remove both breasts after discovering she had the hereditary BRCA2 cancer gene. The abnormal gene is passed from parent to child and caused Fiona’s mother, Brenda, and grandfather, Frank, to develop breast cancer. Fiona revealed: “It went really well but it was really daunting. Both breasts were removed at the same time. They removed all the tissue and put the implants in." She said she had already spoken to her fiancé Chris Warn, a window cleaner, about the operation before she took the test. Fiona said: “He was around when my mum died as well and so he knew about my family. He was very supportive - just saying 'I'm happy as long as you're happy'.”

Is it the end of the line for cash? Cashless societies could become the norm but much will depend on consumer confidence in the available options and the level of security. Getting rid of cash has long been on the agenda of credit card providers, which trade on the fact that they can provide transaction data to the retailers they service. But now a new wave of virtual ways to pay means that consumers could soon be using new currencies Bitcoin and Ven to pay for goods too. Meanwhile, the UK’s three largest mobile networks got together earlier this month to work with retailers on consistent technology that will allow people to pay via a mobile ‘wallet’.

Digital payment solutions iZettle and credit card payment system Square, created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, have introduced technology that allows everyone to accept card payments. Small traders, for example taxi-drivers, window cleaners and plumbers, and those retailers that do not have card acceptance in place can attach a dongle to smartphones and tablets to accept payment. This means the barrier for entry into cashless options is lowered and it is possible for those traders that were cash-only to accept cards.

Coastal Bend residents dream of winning $550 million Powerball jackpot, discuss plans for huge payday. In Corpus Christi it’s the $550 million question. What would you do if those six numbers matched the ones on your Powerball ticket? Surely there’s a unique answer for each person who bought into the dream of beating the 175 million to 1 odds to win Wednesday’s record-breaking lottery jackpot. But after buying nine tickets from Stripes at Water Street and Interstate 37 on Wednesday, Victor Acosta summed up the most likely sentiment. “I’d quit my job,” said Acosta, a window cleaner from San Antonio. If you’re looking for better odds than Powerball — it’s a safe bet to say most people would do the same. But what comes after the initial urge to free yourself from the ranks of your current job? Acosta said he’d also like to travel the world, specifically to Acapulco, Mexico. His choice of transportation for the trip would be a new yacht. Two lucky ticket holders — one in Arizona and another in Missouri — are waking up Thursday to new lives as multimillionaires after the largest Powerball jackpot drawing ever. The numbers drawn for Wednesday night, for the second-highest jackpot in U.S. lottery history, are: 5, 16, 22, 23, 29 and Powerball of 6.

Louth tradesmen angry over warning letters about parking while doing their jobs: A council employee, market traders and local tradespeople have all received warning letters about parking while undergoing their jobs. In preparation for new civil parking enforcement by Lincolnshire County Council which comes into force on Monday, wardens have been patrolling towns and issuing warning notices to drivers who are parked illegally. But Louth Area Committee heard that local tradespeople and market employees have also received warning notices whilst they are undergoing their work. Councillor George Horton said: "Common sense is a big factor. I was collared by a window cleaner who was doing his job who was told he could not park his van there because it is illegal. "Louth is a thriving town. Things like this do not do anything for the cause."

Man sentenced following distraction burglaries: On Saturday September 1 Nathan Lee Makey, aged 35, from Longley in Sheffield called at the home of an 80-year-old woman in the Longley area pretending to be canvassing work for a cleaning company. After gaining her confidence he asked to use the toilet. He then went onto steal jewellery, which was of huge sentimental value as it was a present from her late husband. The following weekend, on Sunday 9 September, Makey pretended to be a window cleaner when he attended at an address in the Southey area of Sheffield - the home of an 82-year-old woman. He entered the house uninvited and engaged the elderly woman in a conversation. During his short stay he went onto steal her handbag, money and other personal items. “Both elderly victims have been informed that Nathan Makey is now serving a lengthy prison sentence. They commented that it was excellent news and they were over the moon” he said.

A knifeman who terrorised a nurse on a disused railway track in the early hours, has been jailed for six months. Burnley Crown Court heard how drunken David Harrington (pictured), 24, had earlier been attacked on a night out and had armed himself with two knives and set off to find his assailants. But his victim, a slightly built man in his 50s, walking home from a night out with his wife, was an innocent, total stranger and had nothing to do with what had happened. Harrington wrapped his arm around the man’s neck from behind and held one of the six inch bladed weapons just inches from his face, leaving him petrified. Harrington, then a Padiham window cleaner, fought back tears in the dock as Judge Jonathan Gibson told him: “Given the circumstances and the widespread concern about the carrying and use of knives, I'm afraid an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable.” The defendant, a father-to-be, of Milton Street, Padiham, had admitted common assault and two counts of having an offensive weapon and had been committed for sentence by Pennine magistrates. He had two previous convictions. Judge Gibson said: “I’m afraid what you did was truly dreadful and you accept that by demonstrating remorse, it seems to me, to the court. “Your victim was, not surprisingly, terrified and what happened has had a significant psychological effect upon him.”

Knockout for Motor Neurone Disease: Terri Reddy (pictured) a 44-year-old will trade punches with another girl as part of the ‘Pavilion Punch Up’ White Collar Boxing night in Leopardstown in order to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA). Terri’s husband Tom Byrne, 58, was diagnosed with the degenerative disease last November. In just one year, the 6ft 21/2 in rugby player, who worked as a carpenter by trade, has lost much of his mobility and struggles to walk.

For the last eight weeks, window cleaner Terri has been put through her paces at the National Stadium gym, training ground of our Olympic boxing heroes, by top coach Eddie Bolger, who trains Irish light-heavyweight champ Joe Ward. And this weekend she will stride into the ring to the theme tune of boxing movie ‘Rocky 6’ to try and outpunch her opponent for the charity.

The plucky Athy woman, who will fight under the moniker “Lights Out”, says she’s looking forward to the fight night, even though she doesn’t know yet who her opponent will be. “I’ll fight anyone, I don’t care at this stage!” she said. Some 30 supporters will be yelling her on on the night - a few, she suspects, who want to see the feisty fighter ship a few punches. “A few people will think it’s been a long time coming,” she joked. “People are very good, and are getting behind both me and the cause. Because we’re from a small town, everyone knows both of us.”

Coun Tarren Randle, left, and Hayley Johnson, general manager of Fever cleaning the outside of the premises.

Workers in Eastgate Street, alongside councillors and volunteers, grabbed the scrubbing brushes yesterday to take part in a big clean-up of the area. The call to arms was made as an incentive to help brighten up mucky shop fronts and empty buildings.  Other areas around the bowling green and Aviation Gardens were also given a spruce-up by young volunteers. It is hoped the deep clean will help draw in visitors. Councillor Jennie Dallimore, cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: "We have been working with volunteers from local businesses as well as our partners to undertake a deep clean of the Eastgate area. "We hope this will improve the area's appearance and encourage footfall from more shoppers. The council has been working with its partners Enterprise to undertake a deep clean, and Gloucestershire Highways have been performing gulley maintenance. Businesses and volunteers have been joining together to tidy the frontages. "Businesses such as Asda and Wilkinson's have also been supporting the day by donating volunteers and equipment."

Christmas Lights & Window Cleaning Round-Up

A window cleaner wipes off Sandy’s grunge from a Starbucks at Hanover Square in Manhattan’s Financial District.

Lower Manhattan Still A Mess 2 Weeks After Hurricane Sandy: As storm-ravaged homeowners living on the coasts of New Jersey and New York City continue to pick up the shattered, waterlogged pieces of their lives, pumping out the basement of the world’s financial capital is only beginning. After that come the safety inspections, the mop-ups, the dry-outs and the replacement of massive boilers, electrical boxes and other assorted parts that make up the guts of a skyscraper. Not since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has the tip of Manhattan been so filled with cleanup crews and equipment. Buildings typically filled with office workers sit empty, many still running on minimal power supplied by generators inside or parked beside them.

Greensburg Decatur County Chamber of Commerce: President Tammie Spurlock presents the Small Business Grant to Charity and Logan Wilder of Crystal Clear Window Cleaning. Charity says "We will be purchasing a glass repair system with the funds."

Tri-Valley residents can leave Christmas lights to experts: If you've ever wished for magic elves to put up your outdoor holiday lights, you're in luck. OK, so you may not get actual elves, but there are plenty of companies willing to string your holiday lights for a fee. "Decorating with lights is a high priority for my husband. I call him Mr. Christmas," Beth Cutrer, of Blackhawk, said. "We like the house to look festive, so it's worth it to pay someone to do that for us. It's too big of a job for us to do it ourselves." Safety concerns and lack of time are the two main reasons people fork over their hard-earned cash to have someone else install their holiday lights, said Lou Vandersnook, owner of The Christmas Light Pros Tri-Valley. "There are more people who die on 6-foot ladders than 60-foot ladders," Vandersnook claimed. "A lot of people don't have the time, or they're not used to getting up on those ladders. It's a dangerous job."

Most companies that install holiday lights have other lines of work that keep them busy during warm months, but business drops off when the weather cools. Installing lights is a perfect way to keep cash flowing during the slow winter months. Vandersnook is a prime example. He owns a retractable screen door business that keeps him and his employees hopping from February through October. Once early October hits, the crews get to work on holiday lights. "For a relatively low cost, I could make a little bit of money on the side," he said of the light licensee business he started in 2006. "It was a seasonal business. It wasn't a huge commitment at that time. Now, it's exploded for us. It's a major business."

Troy Davis is a professional window cleaner by trade, but he got into the holiday light business in 1993 to make ends meet during the wet winter months. "I was looking for a creative way to make money," Davis said. "We used to do house (windows) and people were saying, 'I wish I had those ladders for my Christmas lights.' I specialize in hard-to-reach places and things that are hard to get to. I put that idea into Christmas lights. It just kind of evolved."

Davis, who owns Yes We Do, "Do Windows," is like most light installers who offer full-service packages -- installation, maintenance and removal. "You get us knowing how to install everything so the lights are nice and tight," he said. "If anything goes wrong with those lights, we'll come out there and take care of it. Then we come back after the first of the year and take down the lights." Prices vary wildly from company to company. Some charge by the job, others charge per foot of lights. Tiny twinkle lights cost much less than the expensive, energy-saving LED lights. Large houses and houses with hard-to-reach eaves cost more than single-story homes.

One company might do a one-story house in two hours for a mere $150, but that's at the bargain end of the price range. Many companies have minimums starting at hundreds of dollars and offer packages that run into the thousands for homes with elaborate displays on rooflines, trees and shrubs. "When you look at the whole scenario, it's worth it," Davis said of the investment. "We put the lights up, but we also come back and take them down. Most of the people we work with on these big homes think that it's worth it. They're willing to pay someone to put up their lights."

Mariano Sanchez is another professional window cleaner who supplements his winter income through his Holiday Light Pros business. "Some of my clients are older or just don't have the ability to get on roofs," Sanchez said. "We take the danger out of putting up Christmas lights. It's dangerous when you get up two stories. I've been doing business window cleaning for years now, so I'm comfortable with heights." Sanchez also knows how many lights he can safely string together. "If you connect them wrong, you could blow out fuses," he said. "You need to divide the volts equally. It seems simple, but there are some technicalities, and there's danger involved as well."

While some companies will use lights a customer owns, most prefer to use lights they buy in bulk. "We offer everything from small clear-light bulbs to the latest in LED technology," Vandersnook said. "Say they want icicles one year, but the next year they want multicolor bulbs or LED lights. They can make those changes without making a large investment. All they have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the lights." It's important, Vandersnook noted, to make sure any light installer has the proper workers' compensation and liability insurance. Otherwise, homeowners could be sued if a worker is injured on their property. "There's a lot of guys out there who put up the lights and don't have insurance," he said. "Everybody should have certifications in their vehicles that they can show the customer upon demand."

Crystal Nieto, of Pleasanton, has had Vandersnook decorate her home with the old-fashioned large multicolor bulbs since 2008. It's a luxury and a safety issue for her family. "For us, the height and safety were a concern," she said. "We know they'll come and install them and take them down. We would rather have a professional do that than risk our safety." The end result, Nieto said, is well worth the investment. "When we first started to do it, I thought, 'Oh my gosh, isn't that fantastic?' " she said. "The house looked so much better. When you drive around the corner and see what they've done, your mouth drops."

Kilted window cleaners “Get Checked!” Men In Kilts Calgary participate in the Prostate Cancer Centre’s “Get Checked” event with Brookfield Properties, The Bay Downtown, Suncor Energy, and Crowfoot Dodge. Men In Kilts, a full-service window cleaning, snow removal, gutter cleaning, siding cleaning, pressure washing, blind cleaning, and carpet cleaning company, will be participating to help raise awareness and funds for the Prostate Cancer “Get Checked” event on Wednesday Nov 14th at the Suncor Energy Centre. “Participating in this event is very important for me,” says Chris Carrier, owner of Men In Kilts Calgary. ”My father was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer checks are not something a lot of men are getting done so we need to raise awareness and break down barriers. When this opportunity came up for Men In Kilts to participate, I could not think of a better fit and way to get involved."

Breaking Glass Falls From Trump Tower: Glass is covering a section of Adelade street after a window in the Trump Tower was blown out. Witnesses tell Newstalk1010 that it appears that something fell from the top of the building and smashed the glass. Callers into the newsroom said fire officials are on scene and are spraying the ground with water but no fire was seen. It could be to clean up the glass on the ground. Police have confirmed that there were no injuries and one car was damaged when the glass showered the roadway. Adelade was closed at the intersection of Bay.

Kennewick - The average household in the Tri-Cities brings in $50,000. So you might be surprised to learn almost 100 people working for local city government are projected to make twice than this year. KEPR found out Kennewick is paying the most six-figure salaries. Jonathan Schlender represents the average worker in Kennewick. His window-cleaning business brings in roughly 48-thousand a year. But Kennewick has 40 people on the city's payroll making more than twice that. "We have some positions that are critical to the operations of the city. We have professional positions," said Kennewick Finance Director Evelyn Lusignan. Those include positions like engineers, attorneys and accountants. Kennewick says the salaries are representative of their expertise and longevity.

Murray woman warns neighbors of scam after home burglary: Murray, Utah - After her home was burglarized, a Murray woman is warning others of a door to door scam that she believes possibly led to the crime. Carolyn Shipley thought nothing of it when two men claiming to run a window washing business knocked on her door and offered their services last spring.  Shipley says they offered to clean all the exterior windows for 30 dollars.

When they came a second time in August, Shipley noticed one of the men snooping around her backyard. "I noticed one of the men casing the backyard, now that I think about it," said Shipley. Shipley came home on October 16 only to discover her house had been burglarized. The thieves, according to Shipley had taken off with cash and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. Shipley reported the burglary to police, but never suspected the window washers of the crime - that is until she saw a story air this week on ABC 4 News about door to door scams.

"When I saw that story on Ch. 4 it just clicked, and I thought that's exactly what happened," said Shipley. In the story Shipley saw on the news, ABC 4 had mentioned that the Better Business Bureau is getting more and more complaints of aggressive sellers who scam innocent customers. That's when Shipley put two and two together.  She believes that these scammers cased her neighborhood for months to pull off their elaborate splan. Murray police are investigating the case, but have no leads at this point.  However, they have reason to believe the men who washed Shipley's windows could be involved. They are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Paying back your victim — and then some: In 2010, 26-year-old Simon Crewe allegedly posed as a window cleaner to gain easy access to an 85-year-old woman's home. The young Brit reportedly made off with the woman's purse and about $250. But in the end, wracked with guilt, Crewe not only returned the retiree's cash, but also added a $60 bonus and a letter of apology that contained his name and phone number, which inevitably led to his arrest.