Crime hit stirs town

Dunsborough police are increasing patrols and residents have stepped up their crime reporting after break-ins and attempted thefts from 16 cars around Dunsborough Lakes on one night this week.

Acting Sergeant Rodney Macalister said the incidents all occurred between midnight and 4am on Tuesday morning and small amounts of cash had been stolen from the vehicles.

“Break-ins occurred all around Dunsborough Lakes, almost in an arc around the estate from Mosswood Road, Fermoy Road, Resort Drive, St Michaels Parkway and Monclair Circuit, ” he said.

“It looks as though a lot of it has been opportunistic. Be vigilant, secure your vehicles remove valuables from your car and report thefts to police so we can follow up on them.”

Twenty-three Ipads, valued at $15,000, were also stolen from Dunsborough Primary School on Sunday.

Sgt Macalister said the school was broken into sometime between 4pm on Friday and 9am on Sunday. He said the investigation was ongoing but the school had been targeted several times recently.

Dunsborough resident Luke Pearce, the owner of one of the cars broken into, said it was the first time in his 10 years living in the area such a high volume of petty crime had occurred at this time of year.

“It’s a change in pace for Dunsborough, ” he said. “We’re used to not having to worry about that stuff and that’s one of the reasons we live down here but I think everyone gets comfortable and leaves their homes and cars unlocked.”

Mr Pearce said it was a good general wake up call for Dunsborough and the culprits were probably “a bunch of people from out of town that have got wind that we’re a bit lackadaisical”.

Paul Andrews, an administrator for new Facebook page Dunsborough Community Watch, said the site was launched this week after Monday night’s “last straw” crime spate. The site is said to be a place for people to report criminal and inappropriate behaviour.

“There’s been a heap of petty crime and car break-ins in the last couple of weeks, ” Mr Andrews said. “It looks targeted. It’s no slight against the local police because they’re doing what they can but there’s a feeling around that people are out on their own here.

“After (police station) hours people know they’re 20 minutes away from Busselton if something happens.”

Mr Andrews said the social media site was created as an avenue for Dunsborough residents to report incidents, help each other out and keep police informed.

“Its not vigilante stuff, ” he said.