Avonlea St fights back
By Vickie Maye (Sun Herald)
AFTER more than 85 break-ins in six months, frustrated residents of a Sydney street confronted detectives yesterday, outraged at the lack of police response.
Residents of Avonlea Street, a leafy cul-de-sac of 40 houses in Canley Heights, told police they'd had enough, with another five robberies last week.
Sarah and Ziyrai Ali's home at No 36 has been broken into in daylight four times in the past six weeks. They have lost a television, video, computer and other electrical equipment.
But more than anything they are worried about the safety of their 12-year-old daughter, so they have put their home on the market.
"We are being targeted. They steal during the day when they know people are at work, so I have started working night shifts. I am tired," Mrs Ali said.
"When I have to go away during the day, my neighbour comes and house-sits. My husband hides in the car if we leave together in the morning so people will think someone is at home.
"We are all too afraid to leave our homes, so we are going to sell. But who will want it after all the publicity? We don't really want to leave. It is sad."
And this is a typical scenario in Avonlea Street. Other residents are taking desperate measures to secure their homes.
Those who aren't selling up are spending thousands of dollars on security, erecting barbwire fences and relying on neighbours to keep watch.
Cabramatta police said nothing could be done without evidence, but admitted they had not realised the extent of the problem.
Detective Senior Constable Michael Weston told residents yesterday: "The level of complaints should have filtered through to the detectives or the street should have at least been identified as some kind of hot spot.
"It seems there was a problem with communication but we will look into it. People need to bear in mind Cabramatta is a busy beat."
A man was charged last Thursday over a break-in in the street, but for many residents it is too little too late. They have lost confidence in the police.
Last week, instead of calling the police after another robbery, residents called on Fairfield City Councillor Thang Ngo.
"They have stopped calling the police now because they don't think it will do any good," said Mr Ngo, who organised yesterday's meeting.
"They say the police come, take details and then they hear nothing. The residents are understanding - they know the police are busy because they have no resources - but they are at breaking point."
Another meeting between police and residents has been organised in three weeks.