Two of the cars damaged at Village Place, Mosman Park on Australia Day.
Camera IconTwo of the cars damaged at Village Place, Mosman Park on Australia Day. Credit: Supplied/Jon Bassett.

Town of Mosman Park to form council-based crime prevention group

Jon BassettWestern Suburbs Weekly

CCTV in crime hotspots, lighting and educating residents to stop thefts from cars and burglaries are on the cards after Mosman Park decided to set up a council-based crime prevention group.

“The main thing is when you leave your car make sure there is nothing valuable visible which can make someone smash your window and steal,” Mayor Brett Pollock said.

The meeting of councillors, council staff including rangers, and police was organised after a spree of about 15 thefts from cars mainly in Mosman Park, but also with Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove victims, on Australia Day.

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Mr Pollock said while he recognised the crime spikes “came and went”, including people using the Fremantle train to get in and out of his suburb, it was now necessary to establish a community safety advisory group that would meet every two months.

The group may potentially have a sub-committee of residents to assist in its work of co-ordinating reports of crime so council initiatives and the police’s work is successful.

“It’s my considered view that local government should have a bigger role in preventing crime, whereas before it was all considered to be a police responsibility,” he said.

Immediate council plans are for publications to educate the public to keep valuables unseen and secure, and door and windows locked.

Mr Pollock said the council would investigate a grant for CCTV where it is “definitely” needed at the car park near the Leighton Battery on Stirling Highway, in addition to other “hotspots”.

He said the council was already upgrading Glyde Street to increase its use and passive security, and would talk to the Housing Authority about alleged crime and anti-social behaviour allegedly linked to its properties in the suburb and neighbouring North Fremantle.

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