PixieAU
09-02-2013, 07:52 PM
Went for a wander down there today to fill in some time and have a look at the water. The ramp itself looks the goods, double width with a small (mud) beach area at low tide and a good car park.
But I got talking to a fella there and he mentioned there are security problems at the ramp. He said broken windows with vehicles cleaned out or stolen trailers was becoming commonplace there. Personal safety also seems to be a problem there at times with some drug addled folks using the area as their hangout.
He mentioned the police occasionally patrol and sometimes they'll round up some troublemakers/crims but not enough to deter them. He said that often a motorbike will come down, do a reconnaissance of the car park and then be followed up with others coming down in a car to raid the car park.
While talking to this fella, the police did drive past, which was good to see. Then, sure enough, a few minutes after the police left a trail bike came down, did a quick lap of the car park and then took off. Apparently this gives the greatest window of opportunity between patrols. With a few people still at the ramp and car park it seemed unlikely to have any dodgy activity although this fella did say his car was broken into (at the Beachmere ramp) in the middle of the day with people around who didn't even think to take a rego number.
Spoke to another couple of regulars who also said they're always pleased to see their vehicle at still in the carpark when they get back and the bonus is having no broken windows.
This state of affairs is disappointing to me because I had thought this ramp might have saved me a bit of a drive to Spinnaker Sound or even Beachmere ramp. Despite the busyness of Spinnaker Sound and the occasional lack of car parks, the regular turn over and traffic must provide a more secure environment for parked cars.
For anyone in the know, is the above description a fair assessment of this ramp or has the problem been overstated?
But I got talking to a fella there and he mentioned there are security problems at the ramp. He said broken windows with vehicles cleaned out or stolen trailers was becoming commonplace there. Personal safety also seems to be a problem there at times with some drug addled folks using the area as their hangout.
He mentioned the police occasionally patrol and sometimes they'll round up some troublemakers/crims but not enough to deter them. He said that often a motorbike will come down, do a reconnaissance of the car park and then be followed up with others coming down in a car to raid the car park.
While talking to this fella, the police did drive past, which was good to see. Then, sure enough, a few minutes after the police left a trail bike came down, did a quick lap of the car park and then took off. Apparently this gives the greatest window of opportunity between patrols. With a few people still at the ramp and car park it seemed unlikely to have any dodgy activity although this fella did say his car was broken into (at the Beachmere ramp) in the middle of the day with people around who didn't even think to take a rego number.
Spoke to another couple of regulars who also said they're always pleased to see their vehicle at still in the carpark when they get back and the bonus is having no broken windows.
This state of affairs is disappointing to me because I had thought this ramp might have saved me a bit of a drive to Spinnaker Sound or even Beachmere ramp. Despite the busyness of Spinnaker Sound and the occasional lack of car parks, the regular turn over and traffic must provide a more secure environment for parked cars.
For anyone in the know, is the above description a fair assessment of this ramp or has the problem been overstated?