STREET lights and more police could be the answer to stop the burglaries happening in the Davenport area according to local business owners who have recently been targeted.
Napoli Auto Repairs owner Phil Napoli said he had been broken into 10 times in the last 28 years of owning his business with many security measures doing little to deter buglers.
He said he installed a sensor light which was smashed and CCTV could be easily avoided by breaking the camera or wearing clothes which cover someone’s face.
In the many burglaries he has had over the years, he has lost computers and laptops, petty cash and come to work to find the room completely turned upside down.
“I now do all my work from my computer at home because I don’t want to risk keeping it at work,” he said.
But Mr Napoli said the overwhelming answer was to install street lights.
“This area is so dark at night that it’s scary,” he said.
“We have no street lights and I really think that if street lights were installed, they would be a bigger deterrent than anything.”
Transearth Auto Electrical and Aircon owner Sean Cullinan was victim of a burglary on Sunday morning which left him at a loss of almost $80,000.
He said about 3.30am on Sunday morning, February 7, his business was victim to a ram raid which damaged fences before burglars took a Nissan Navara vehicle, a motorbike, safes containing cash and tools.
“It’s just really disheartening because we have only been in this warehouse for three months,” he said.
He said he was hoping to put another staff member on but with a work vehicle stolen, it was no longer possible for him to do so.
“Coming from South Africa, you are prepared for burglaries and even carry guns but here they get a slap on the wrist and don’t seem to take into consideration the domino effect it has on us in terms of insurance premiums and replacing the tools which weren’t covered by insurance,” he said.
He echoed Mr Napoli and said street lights would deter some people.
But City of Bunbury director works and services Gavin Harris said street lights were a costly process.
He said people could apply for street lights through writing to the city but were only granted for the safety of road users rather than the security of businesses.
“The city has limited funds for the installation of new street lights,” he said.
“The lights are owned by Western Power, however the city is responsible for the cost of installation and ongoing operational costs.”
He said property security should be addressed by the individual.
“Installation costs depend on whether infrastructure, such as power, already exists in the area proposed for street lighting.
“Once lights are installed the operational costs depend on the type of light and number of lights.
“Currently the city pays $74,241.80.”
