COUNCILLORS have vowed to take action to protect terrified local residents as a fresh wave of break-ins swept the city this week.
In a show of unity, Griffith councillors flagged a raft of measures on Tuesday night to tackle the "disturbing" spate of crimes.
The measures included a $2000 reward for information about damage to council property, a tactical meeting with Griffith police commander Michael Rowan, the possibility of closing laneways in high crime areas like Murrumbidgee Estate and introducing more police multicultural liaison officers.
This urgent action comes during the most alarming spate of break-ins Griffith has seen in years, with more premises targeted over the past two days.
Incidents included:
- Two Murrumbidgee Avenue residents aged in their 60s awoke to find two men armed with torches trying to remove a fly screen at about 5am yesterday morning. The thieves ran off when they were spotted.
- A Toyota Camry was stolen from a Poole Street garage between 11pm Wednesday and 3am yesterday. The garage was open, the keys were in the ignition and about $100 cash was in the console. The vehicle was later found dumped in Chandler Park.
- The owners of the Yambil Inn awoke to the sound of a man on the roof of the Yambil Street motel at about 3.10am yesterday morning. The offender ran from the scene.
- Computer items and jewellery were stolen from Bowditch Place home on Wednesday afternoon. A neighbour saw a man and woman jumping the fence to the home at about 12.15pm. The couple removed a fly screen and smashed a rear window to gain entry.
In a bid to tackle the spike in crime, a workshop will be held with Superintendent Rowan on February 19, where councillors will be provided with the most recent crime statistics to allow them to formulate an action plan.
Cr Simon Croce said a number of residents in Murrumbidgee Estate had been targeted - some on more than one occasion.
He said some of the lane ways in the estate currently provide access routes for criminals and he suggested they should be closed.
Cr Paul Rossetto, who met with Griffith Police Inspector Gordon Dunlop earlier this month, said the police were desperate for more multicultural liaison officers.
"There are 52 cultural groups and every group has a different way of interpreting the law," Cr Rossetto said.
"Council needs to write to the state government for greater funding for multicultural liaison officers."
However, Cr Pat Cox said she was concerned to see multicultural groups being targeted, when council had not yet reviewed any statistics.
Cr Cox said she would prefer to see support offered for the whole community, rather than pointing the finger at particular ethnic groups.
