Kiama a ‘soft target’ for crime says victim

A KIAMA man is calling for a greater police presence in Kiama in the wake of his Toyota Tarago being stolen for the second time on Wednesday night.

The victim of six attempted break-ins in the last eight years, David Formosa believes local police are too overworked to properly protect the town.

Talking to police seems to be a waste of time, their hands are full. Cases like mine are simply too insignificant, he said.

I have no doubt the area surrounding Noorinan Street where I live is being targeted by crooks.

I know of at least 10 other break-ins in the last year.

The thieves are simply rolling the cars down the hill in the night and we dont hear a thing.

While praising the work of local police, Mr Formosa claims that Kiama is becoming renowned as an easy target for criminals in the local area.

There is no doubt that the criminals know that if they get the train down here they can easily leave with a car, he said.

We just dont have the numbers to stop this sort of thing happening.

Even if they do catch the crooks, they have to have the gear they stole in their hands otherwise they get away with it. You do not want to know what I think of the penalties. It is just too easy for these blokes.

Despite saying he would always welcome any increase in police numbers, Kiama Police Sergeant David Wheatley said there was no evidence that Kiama was currently being targeted by criminals.

Since July 1 we have had only three vehicles stolen, he said.

One of those was the Tarago in question and, another, the person left their vehicle unlocked with the keys in the ignition. There definitely does not seem to be a problem with theft at the moment and I would certainly deny the claim that any one area of Kiama is being targeted.

If there is an increase in crime then we would certainly require the publics assistance in reporting it, said Sgt Wheatley.

Despite being the victim of two break-ins, Kiama MP Matt Brown praised the work of local police saying the government had made a commitment to station several graduates from this years academy intake throughout the Lake Illawarra Command.

I fully sympathise with the concerns of residents who are the victims of crime, but I also wish to congratulate the work of local police who have done an outstanding job in lowering crime both in the local area command and Kiama, he said.

The local police are doing a fantastic job at the moment and the only time they are shutting up shop is when they are out on the road chasing crooks.

There is always a matter of priority and as Kiama is growing there is obviously a greater need for police, but I am very happy with the efforts of our local police.