Callala residents fed up with 'brazen' thieves after months of break-ins

According to residents, the “crime spree” began about a year ago, but has escalated over recent months, with homes and cars being broken into on a near-daily basis. 

One group of residents, who wish to remain anonymous, have come together to try to regain a sense of community within the township. 

“Callala used to be the type of place where you could leave your doors unlocked and not worry about it,” a resident said. 

“Those days are certainly gone. You wouldn’t dare do that now.” 

According to community members, thieves have been breaking into homes and cars, stealing things like money, electronics, and tools, and at times “trashing” homes. 

One resident was broken into a few months ago, in broad daylight, after leaving the house for less than an hour. 

“I took my kids out at about 3.50pm and when we returned about 4.45pm we’d been broken into,” he said. 

The thieves smashed a window and stole numerous things including cash and jewellery. 

The scariest part about the experience was the family felt as though they had been watched. 

“We were only gone for a brief period and someone must have been watching to see when we left, and when we got back,” the resident said. 

“That’s pretty scary to think someone’s watching you, especially if you have children.” 

The residents said the thieves had become “more brazen”. 

“The frequency [of the break-ins] has just skyrocketed and they’re just so brazen, they don’t care where they are, or what time of day it is,” a resident said. 

As the frequency of crimes increases, residents are becoming fearful the severity of the crimes may soon change too. 

“We’ve heard that some of these thieves are armed with knives,” a resident said. 

“How far are they going to go before the hurt someone?” 

With a sense of frustration enveloping the community, residents have invested in a range of measures to protect their property. 

“A lot of people have installed security systems and put signs all over their property telling [potential thieves] they’re on camera,” a resident said. 

There are fears that the crime spree could affect property resale value. According to NRMA Insurance, Callala Beach and Bay have been classed as a high-risk theft areas. 

“If people want to sell, who’s going to want to buy in a community full of crime,” one resident said. 

“We want to stop this before it gets any worse. I can’t have my kids living in a town like this.”

South Coast MP Shelley Hancock offered support to residents but reminded them to report all crime, no matter how small an incident may be. 

“Police have recently charged a number of people in relation to a series of recent property offences in the Callala Beach area,” she said. 

“Police continue to have an active presence in the area and I encourage the community to talk to their local police about the issues impacting them and report all concerning matters.”

While residents are concerned there isn’t enough of a police presence in the township, Ms Hancock said the recent police restructure meant more police were available in the area.  

“Local police continue to proactively patrol the Shoalhaven area, and the re-engineering process has further strengthened their ability to readily deploy to the areas where they are needed most,” she said.