Susan Russell has lived in Flinders for the past four years and in Shellharbour City for the past 36.

The 65-year-old said the same issues have been present throughout that time.

"I don't know what it is, but there just seems to be this continual element in the city of people who keep doing the same thing," Ms Russell said.

"It seems to be young people, young males, who have no respect for the property of people and just seem intent on causing trouble in the area. For as long as I've lived here it's been going on and it's a shame because besides that it's such a beautiful area."

Ms Russell sat on the council's Community Safety Team for seven years. She also worked as a security adviser on the South Coast for five years.

Ms Russell said with the expansion of the city, the issues have become more prevalent and she would like to see residents and police take a combined approach to prevention.

"These are things that were happening before the new suburbs like Flinders popped up, but you look at what's happening to Shellharbour Public School and the Little Athletics, and it seems to be happening more and more.

"I don't know what the solution is, but I think the first step is having more police on the streets all the time. You get a blitz here and there but I think there needs to be a more continual presence.

"The other thing is I think people need to be more proactive, be it calling the police if they think something is happening or just by having a security system that monitors their property."

Both Shellharbour Public School and the Lake Illawarra Little Athletics facility at Flinders have been vandalised repeatedly this year. Lake Illawarra Little Athletics president Howard McGarry estimates the break-ins have left the club with a bill close to $4000.

Anybody with any information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.