THE Shire of Northam Community Safety Committee has created the Lock and Light program to tackle crime in the area.
Crime statistics and police intelligence indicates that community members who are crime targets are often not taking adequate precautions.
The program will help vulnerable residents have a home security assessment to raise awareness of what is not secure.
Eligible vulnerable residents will have the opportunity to apply for funding up to an agreed amount for the installation of home security devices such as door dead locks, door peep holes, keyed window locks, sensor lighting, home intruder alarms, UV pens for property marking and identification purposes and information about crime prevention.
Senior sergeant Geoff Dickson said like all communities, there were people in the Avon Valley who were considered vulnerable or at risk.
“Lock and Light will support vulnerable residents who often become repeat victims of crime within in our community, to live independently through improving their personal safety when in their homes,” he said.
“The program aims to increase their sense of well-being and improve their resilience to crime, whilst reducing their sense of vulnerability.”
The program is a partnership between the Shire of Northam, Northam and Wundowie Police, the Share and Care Community Services Group, Northam Mitre10, Wundowie One-Stop Thrifty Link, Northam Home Maintenance Services and the Wundowie Men’s Shed.
Share and Care Community Services group chairwoman Anne Gibbs said the installation of home security devices would decrease the opportunity for home burglary-related crimes.
“Publicity undertaken to support the project will also encourage the general community to become more safety conscious with their homes and this will contribute to the reduction of crime in the Shire of Northam,” she said.
Northam Shire president Steven Pollard said it was committed to ensuring there were continued improvements to community safety with a particular emphasis on minimising the occurrence and opportunity for criminal activity.
For more information – northam.wa.gov.au
An Australian Bureau of Statistics report, released last month, showed WA had the worst record when it comes to containing burglaries, assaults and car thefts and it was getting worse.
According to the report 4.8 per cent of West Australian's reported break-ins within the last financial year - nearly double the overall rate for Australia (2.6 per cent).
