And with Griffith police warning locals to stay vigilant during a spate of break-ins, the Griffith mother is not the only one worried.

Sue Armanini, 40, who is expecting her second child on Monday, said she went home during a lunch break rest in late October, when she heard someone at her front door.

"It sounded like someone was trying to open the door, but I didn't think much of it," Mrs Armanini said.

"I was trying to have a rest and get a bit of sleep, but suddenly I heard a bang on the side of the house."

The mother of a five-year-old daughter said she went to the back of her Collina family home to look through the laundry window to see what had caused the noise.

"When I looked out of the window a young guy looked into the window," the local business woman said. "He looked right at me and I looked at him.

"I was so scared it was so confronting. "It probably was a bit of a shock to his system too, because he probably didn't expect me to be home."

She said the young man, believed to be in his late teens, fled.

"Being pregnant I wasn't going to go outside to chase him," she said. "It is very frightening. Someone was trying to invade my house, my privacy."

Mrs Armanini said she believed her house had been watched prior to the attempted break-in.

"Usually I am not at home at lunch time," she said.

"He probably thought it was an easy target because nobody would be home. Our house isn't the only one that has been targeted in recent weeks."

She said tougher laws were needed to get criminals off the streets.

"The legal system is too lenient," Mrs Armanini said. "If you can break into someone's home and get away with a slap on the wrist, there's something wrong with the legal system."

In the wake of a spate of recent break-ins and thefts, Griffith police are urging residents to be vigilant and keep a look out for any suspicious activity.

"Note the description of any persons or vehicles you see which you believe are out of place, and report your suspicions to police," Inspector Kim Traynor said.

"A number of incidents recently have raised police suspicions that the offenders may be watching premises and waiting for people to leave.

"This could be planned or opportunistic.

"Most of these incidents are occurring in residential areas in and around Griffith, and are happening during the day and night."

If you see suspicious activity contact Griffith police on 6969 4299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.