Bayonet Head residents feel heat as crime hot spot

Bayonet Head experienced the sharpest rise in crime in the past 12 months than any other suburb in Albany, while Spencer Park continues to lead the way as the City's worst crime hot spot.

The latest WA Police crime statistics for 2015, analysed by the Albany Advertiser reveal the safest suburbs and the ones that continue to be the focus of police efforts to curb crime.

The north-eastern suburb of Bayonet Head replaced Orana as the second-worst area for burglaries, behind Spencer Park, with more than double the amount of home break-ins in 2015 compared with 2014.

A total of 39 burglaries were experienced in the latest 12-month period, up from 14 the year before, a rise of 64 per cent.

Of the top five worst suburbs for burglaries in 2014, only Orana and McKail saw drops in reported burglaries.

Spencer Park, Bayonet Head, Yakamia and Lockyer all experienced similar burglary rates compared with 2014.

The sleepy beachside suburbs of Goode Beach and Emu Point recorded only one and three burglaries each to be the safest suburbs, along with Warrenup, which according to police statistics recorded no home break-ins last year.

Albany police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Grant Pollard said thefts from unlocked cars in Bayonet Head and Centennial Park, along with burglaries in Bayonet Head and Spencer Park, had continued into the new year and were a concern for police. "The message is if you see someone vaguely suspicious in their appearance and the time and location, give us a ring," he said. "We need to know so we can direct our resources where these problems are.

"We would like individuals to take more responsibility for their own property also. Don't leave your wallet on the car seat or laptop in the back, it creates the ideal situation for these opportunistic offenders."

Sen. Sgt Pollard said taking simple precautions such as locking windows and doors, regardless whether you are home or not, as well as trimming bushes away from front windows, would help protect your belongings.

He said residents looking out for their neighbours seemed to be declining.

"People are cocooned in their own dwelling and whatever happens outside is not their business, but really crime is everyone's business," Sen. Sgt Pollard said.

"As suburbia spreads, these suburbs which were classed as fringe are now classed as middle area. Offenders are mobile and no suburb is 100 per cent safe from these types of criminals.

"All our resources are focused on the prevention of the three core offences - burglaries, theft and property damage."

Offenders

are mobile and

no suburb is

100 per cent safe .

Senior Sergeant Grant Pollard