There has been a spike in car break ins and thefts in the northern suburbs in the past two months, Wollongong police have revealed.
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Tradies' utes in particular are being targeted.
Crime manager Detective Inspector Brad Ainsworth told a Thirroul community forum that there had been 12 thefts from motor vehicles between Bulli to Helensburgh in the past six weeks, which was higher than usual.
"At the moment, there are a lot of tradies' utes getting hit," he said.
"We understand, Tradies can't unpack their utes every night but offenders are smashing the windows to get in.
"We can't stop them from doing that unless we arrest them then and there. It is a big issue.
"We need your help. We need you to report it to us.
"For cops to be in the right place at the right time very rarely happens.
"If we know there is a spate then we can investigate."
Det Insp Ainsworth reminded residents to lock their cars and homes to prevent any valuables being stolen.
"Some people think they don't need to lock their cars or house," he said.
"They never used to, especially 50 or 60 years ago but now in almost 2020, times have changed. Don't leave valuables in your car."
Det Insp Ainsworth said even a barrister had left her robes and wig in the car and it got stolen.
One resident admitted he now locked his car after his neighbours had their vehicle broken into.
Det Insp Ainsworth explained that offenders, often teenagers, walked the streets at night opening cars hoping to find lose change or valuables such as laptops, mobile phones and credit cards.
"Last year I asked the cops to go out to one of the northern suburbs and try to open cars," he said.
"They then knocked on the owners' doors to tell them their car was unlocked."
Residents were reminded to report crimes such as break ins, car and bike thefts and unregistered motorbike riding directly to Wollongong police and not Facebook because officers did not have time to trawl through social media looking for posts.
"If you want the cops to know about [an incident], you have to report it," Det Insp Ainsworth said.
Residents also complained to police about people, likely teenagers, riding unregistered dirt bikes on the streets of Thirroul.
Several residents shared stories of hearing one or more motorbikes riding in the middle of the night for the past couple of weeks.
Det Insp Ainsworth said residents needed to notify police as highway patrol officers responded to the reports.
"If they get enough complaints they will set up an operation and do something about it," he said.
Residents also said they wanted to see "more of a police presence" on the streets.
Inspector Don Faulds told residents the deployment of police resources to suburbs was partly based on the number of reported crimes.
Residents were told police were often driving around the northern suburbs and police cars had all the technology officers needed so they did not have sit behind a desk to do their work.
The inspectors explained that the two police officers who were based at the Helensburgh station were an addition to the other Wollongong police officers who would respond to incidents in the northern suburbs.
Wollongong police will hold a safety meeting with residents in Helensburgh on November 20 from 3.30pm to 4.30pm at Rex Jackson Park.
