"Allow" really doesn't describe how they've handled it, in the same way that a store owner would take exception to one saying, "he allowed himself to be robbed," or a young woman might presumptuously be said to have, "allowed herself to be assaulted."
From what I can see, the initial efforts were pretty disciplined and stealthy. This thing seems to have reached critical mass before the man gave any indication that he was onto it.
Then again, history shows that appearances tend to be deceiving.