Post by Chips on May 7, 2008 9:36:11 GMT 9.5
Graffiti, kicked cars and flying trolleys in Glebe - time to move out
I am 31 years old and live in Glebe. I am growing more and more concerned each day about the crime I witness on my street - and I've only seen the half of it.
I've come home at night to find gangs of youths spray-painting graffiti on my car. I've seen them swing shopping trolleys through the air only metres from my car. I've seen them walk over the roof of my car and kick in the side mirror of every car on the street. I've seen them use my neighbour's picket fence to trash, smash and steal cars. I've seen them set fire to garbage bins and to cars.
I've seen them smoking, fighting, drinking and throwing up on the footpath. I've seen them snatch handbags and lob beer bottles at police - and again, I've only seen the half of it.
The City of Sydney fact sheet on personal safety recommends that residents "walk with confidence, use strong body language and make eye contact with others" to reduce their risk of being targeted. I have done this and I've seen generations of pure evil staring back at me. The city's helpful fact sheet also recommends that I avoid walking at night and always keep my purse in a secure place, such as in a money belt.
When I am not looking to the City of Sydney for advice on safety, I find the number most often dialled on my telephone is now Glebe Police Station. Luckily it also offers great advice. For example: "Just leave your car unlocked then the kids won't have to smash the window." An even better solution it offers is to "just move out".
Maybe the police are right - it's time to leave the problem of escalating crime in Glebe to the police and the perpetrators and to just leave.
Alison Diaper Glebe
I am 31 years old and live in Glebe. I am growing more and more concerned each day about the crime I witness on my street - and I've only seen the half of it.
I've come home at night to find gangs of youths spray-painting graffiti on my car. I've seen them swing shopping trolleys through the air only metres from my car. I've seen them walk over the roof of my car and kick in the side mirror of every car on the street. I've seen them use my neighbour's picket fence to trash, smash and steal cars. I've seen them set fire to garbage bins and to cars.
I've seen them smoking, fighting, drinking and throwing up on the footpath. I've seen them snatch handbags and lob beer bottles at police - and again, I've only seen the half of it.
The City of Sydney fact sheet on personal safety recommends that residents "walk with confidence, use strong body language and make eye contact with others" to reduce their risk of being targeted. I have done this and I've seen generations of pure evil staring back at me. The city's helpful fact sheet also recommends that I avoid walking at night and always keep my purse in a secure place, such as in a money belt.
When I am not looking to the City of Sydney for advice on safety, I find the number most often dialled on my telephone is now Glebe Police Station. Luckily it also offers great advice. For example: "Just leave your car unlocked then the kids won't have to smash the window." An even better solution it offers is to "just move out".
Maybe the police are right - it's time to leave the problem of escalating crime in Glebe to the police and the perpetrators and to just leave.
Alison Diaper Glebe