Community & Business
12 November, 2024
Fear, frustration over crime
SOME have been broken into more than four times, have had successive cars stolen, or have been confronted by brazen burglars in their own homes, leaving them “absolutely terrified”.
Their calls to Police Link go unheeded, even when a crime is ongoing, or the attendant has no idea where the location is, or says it is not an emergency.
Such was the collective venting about Mareeba crime during a lively community meeting at the Sports Hall on Friday.
Created to address the level of crime in the James St pensioner cottages area, the meeting drew a wide audience of about 150 people including representatives from Mareeba Shire Council, local police, community housing, the PCYC and newly elected Member for Cook David Kempton.
Organised by Mary Beaumont and Dolores O’Brien, the meeting was moderated by Kenny O’Brien who opened the floor to attendees who, one by one, outlined their experiences and growing fear of crime in their neighbourhood.
One woman told the crowd she had been broken into three times, so she bought a dog.
“He’s only a little dachshund but he makes a noise. All the neighbours say, ‘gee your little dog’s great.”
Sue, who moved to Mareeba two years ago from Victoria, thought Mareeba would be “her forever home”, but instead she was “terrified”.
“The first time, I was in bed and woke up at 4am... I went out with a torch and saw the laundry flyscreen was open, the cat door was open, and the front gate was open. We heard nothing. The dog heard nothing. It’s scary,” she said.
“I’m not a vulnerable elderly person, but I really fear for [them]. We need to look after them.”
Paul, on behalf of all the businesses “copping all the damage in town” said he could not understand “how the elderly people that made this town, have to suffer and have fear in their own home. I want to see some solutions”.
Another woman who lived across the road from the Meals on Wheels centre, said she had called police when she saw it was being broken into but was told it was “not an emergency”.
“Well, what is an emergency then?” she asked.
Many nodded or clapped in agreement when it was suggested the pensioner cottages had been increasingly targeted over the past five years because the residents were vulnerable and the homes were easy pickings.
Residents have asked for more police patrols, security checks, deadlocks on the cottages, and more preventative features.
Pensioner Ernie said everyone was getting sick of the flagrant disregard of the law and total lack of respect for one’s elders.
“You see kids everyday riding around on their bikes with no helmets. That’s against the law. I know [the police have] got a lot of work to do, but there are fines that can be used. We have to stand up for our rights.”
Away from the cottages, a younger woman living across town had the audience pin-drop silent.
Michelle, at 56, and with a disability, had moved from central New Mexico to live in Mareeba for a quiet, safe life. But she had since had over $50,000 worth of damages done to her house.
Her ongoing issues with young offenders had made her life a misery, with no response or long waits for police. When her car was stolen, she waited more than an hour for any action.
She had had security screens ripped off windows. On one occasion a child had thrown a rock at her car when she arrived home. An older child had said they could do what they wanted because “we are underage, police won’t touch us”.
More recently, when she had had one of her windows smashed she had chased the kids to their home “to give a bit of lip to the mother”.
“By the time I turned around and walked back home the police were in my driveway, questioning me,” she said.
“This isn’t living. I can’t go on like this. They have threatened to kill my animals, my three cats.
“My 80-year-old neighbours live in fear.”
Despite her anger and her ordeal, Michelle brought a positive solution to the meeting with a proposal for a Safe House, which was modelled on a Canadian system.
A not-for-profit safe house could give kids and parents a night off, or an authority could recommend a night for a child at a safe house. It worked as a refuge, a place where the child could have a clean bed to sleep in, a decent meal, and be released in the morning, with no questions asked. It could offer counselling, education, cultural support, or just time out.
The proposal was provided to police and community services.
Another attendee suggested curfews for underaged kids, from 9pm to 6pm, which could marry up with a safe house model.
A stronger view that parents of kids who are caught carrying out crimes should be held responsible.
Patrol Group Inspector for the Tablelands Jason Smith acknowledged the issues for the town, but reiterated that there a number of services in the town that worked collaboratively with police including housing, social services, council, education and State Government.
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