A GROUP of Lockridge residents living in a Department of Communities housing complex are calling for CCTV cameras to be installed at their “graveyard site” to combat crime in the area.
Lockridge resident Paul Bradshaw said the 12-unit complex, located on Rosher Road across from Lockridge Primary School, was subject to break-ins, threats for food, money and cigarettes, graffiti and smashed windows since Christmas.
“We went out there with a petition to Homeswest (Department of Communities), with eight signatures on it and they said to us ‘We could not accept that; everyone had to write out a single complaint’,” he said.
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READ NOW“There have been about five people who died since I have been here and half the time, Homeswest don’t even know that they are dead.”
Housing assistant director general Greg Cash said the department’s North Metropolitan regional office was not notified by the tenants or police of any break-ins.
“Some residents have expressed concern to attending departmental officers about school children allegedly walking through the complex. However this issue has not warranted cause for concern or action at this stage,” he said.
“There is currently no program for retrospective installation of CCTV at public housing properties.”
Swan chief executive Mike Foley said while the City provided CCTV at some public spaces, it was the responsibility of tenants or property owners to install CCTV or surveillance cameras on privately owned property.
Kiara Police acting senior sergeant Warren Holdway said there had been a juvenile charged with an alleged burglary in the area and police did regular patrols.
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