Fighting back against crime
FRIGHTENED Hillcrest residents who have been the victims of recent break and enters are starting to take matters into their own hands by forming their own Neighbourhood Watch.
In the past six months there have been numerous break and enters to both homes and vehicles.
A Hillcrest Neighbourhood Watch spokesman, who did not want to be identified for safety reasons, said the suburb rallied together for a meeting on the weekend to discuss what could be done to help improve safety on their streets.
"We had approximately 40 to 50 people, which included the State Member for Algester Anthony Shorten attend our weekend meeting," he said.
"Our aim is to bring both justice and awareness of the crime rate in our area, as well as the rest of Logan.
"Both my family members and other residents are afraid of the increasing crime in the area and are scared to be home alone both day and night."
The spokesman also said the area was fast becoming a hotspot for hoons.
"Our area has also become a dumping ground for unwanted stolen items from other suburbs," he said.
"The hoons do the burnouts at all hours of the day and night."
The residents are now considering installing CCTV cameras throughout their suburbs to try and help catch people acting suspiciously.
"Numerous residents have already installed 24 hour surveillance cameras as well as security alarm systems to protect both themselves and their property," the spokesman said.
"But other ways of minimising the crime would be to include slow down points for hoons, fencing along the railway line so it is properly fenced off, and concrete barriers to block off dead end streets which aren't in use.
"We want to get as many residents from the Hillcrest area involved so we are all vigilant of any suspicious vehicles or behaviour which occur in the area."
