Special April edition - 2014

Hi blog followers; yes, we are back!  Thank you for your many requests for information and news.  We're glad to hear that you're keen to keep in tough and we will do our best to provide as much feedback and information as possible.

This month we will start with a report from Watto about serious issues that effect us all and need our attention:

SPECIAL APRIL EDITION - 2014

Sorry about the delay with our Preston Beach Blog but due to other meaningful matters I haven’t had the time to put print to paper. This special Blog addition addresses Points of Interest and Forth Coming Events.

The Good Old Days - I Remember When

As you are all well aware Preston Beach along with other small country communities are experiencing an increased population growth rate which is slowly pressing development and population movement to the northern, southern, eastern and western corridors of the metropolitan area. There are casual factors that go with this corridor movement which in some instances can be attributed to people seeking a general country lifestyle, employment, more affordable housing and cheaper home rentals. Sadly along with this movement into the corridors of our country lifestyle; our exposure to the criminality experienced in the larger populated areas will increase. If we have our heads buried in the sand, or naive to what’s happening around us then we will be a victims of anti-social behaviour and/or crime. We all remember the good old days when you could leave your vehicle, garage and house unlocked because there was no crime and your best friends were your neighbours. Well not wishing to be an alarmist, the good old times are slowly changing, if you think you are still living in that sheltered environment – think again!

The Criminal element calculate their risk carefully, they know their easiest targets lie in areas unwatched, and/or unattended. Most are looking for that quick hit on small items that will generate an easy “no questions asked” cash flow for in most cases, their drug/alcohol dependency - this intent is also reflected in the increased stealing from motors vehicles.

Some Caravan Parks in smaller country areas are starting to become a haven for transient people, some of which have extensive criminal records. When putting your feet into the shoes of someone else, or thinking like a crim, what better place to lay low and operate. The other problem which is becoming a major threat and causing grief to small communities is private property owners renting/leasing homes out to the very same people as mentioned in both of these two highlighted paragraphs.

Remember Angry Anderson’s, Quotation, “If you’re not part of the solution then you’re part of the problem”.

So what can we do about it?

Develop a reporting culture – if your see something untoward, suspicious or inherently dangerous, write down particulars and report it to police in a timely manner( not days after the event);

•  If you are a property owner and thinking of renting/leasing ask the prospective Tenant to obtain and supply you with a current “National Police Clearance Check” which will provide any encounters with authorities - they pay for it. (If they have a problem you more than likely won’t see them again) Also request a current Motor Drivers Licence with their photograph for ID purposes. Don’t accept the licence of another person, it must be the person directly involved and responsible for the rental – also record the registration numbers of their vehicles;
• Use a reliable and experienced Real Estate Agent – remember once bad tenants’ have their leg in the door it can be hard and heart breaking to get them out. Real Estate Agents have access to tenancy data bases not available to owners.
• Report matters to our Rangers who work in unison with local police.
  The urban sprawl will bring with it opportunistic crime so let’s start being the eyes and ears for our community. Have a note book and pen in your vehicle, if it’s suss, record it and report it in a timely manner. Have a list of all emergency contact numbers and place same in your note book - if you’re not sure record it and confer with someone in authority.
  I will always remember a great quotation of an American Judge who said “The only way you will reduce violent crime, is when it’s just as dangerous to be a criminal as it is a victim of crime “.
  Regards
  Watto