Terrified residents of a Derrimut street have hired security to keep watch over their houses after a recent spate of home invasions.
One resident, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said 17 households were chipping in to hire security to patrol their street overnight on weekends.
The security guard started on Friday night as part of a one-month trial to see if the presence deters would-be criminals.
She said residents in the street are fed up living in fear after a number of aggravated burglaries robbed families of their cars and motorbikes.
The most recent incident was on March 4 when her neighbour’s house was broken into and a car was stolen, she said. The same house had been broken into the week before as well.
“It’s beyond a joke now, and we feel like we can’t rely on the police because they never come,” she said.
Her family has woken to people banging on their front door and driving up the driveway with their headlights on during the night.
“I see them walking the streets armed with golf clubs; there are about 40 of them.
“There are a few residents thinking of selling,” she said. “There are kids in the street who can’t sleep alone anymore.”
She said the “gang” of young men congregate around the local supermarket.
“They all hang out at Coles – I refuse to go there alone now,” she said.
A group of residents has been keeping watch at night for troublemakers, the woman said. Any incidents are reported to police.
Senior Constable Adam West said police are currently investigating an aggravated burglary in Hammerwood Avenue on February 25 where a car was stolen.
He said detectives believe the same offender broke into a car in Carlisle Street and then stole a monkey bike from a Tantallon Crescent shed.
He said police regularly patrol the area and urged anyone who has been a victim of crime to report the matter to CrimeStoppers or by dialling triple-0.
Data from the Crime Statistics Agency shows burglaries in the suburb is declining, with 78 in the year to September 30 last year, compared to 183 four years ago.
But the number of aggravated burglaries has remained relatively steady, with an average of four every year.
