The Mayor of Katherine Fay Miller is pushing for residents to "get smarter" on crime, following a sharp increase in break-ins and vandalism over the past week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The comments come after a prominent business owner stood guard outside his CBD store overnight to protect it from an ongoing spate of vandalism.
"The onus is on business owners to have their places lit up," Mrs Miller said last night at the monthly Ordinary Meeting of Council.
"They have to make sure they are doing everything in their power to do what they can... Nothing has changed, but we have to get smarter."
While she pointed out she didn't have a definitive answer to the ongoing crime issues afflicting Katherine she said bright lights have helped her in the past to deter anti-social behaviour.
"I owned a bus for 11 years and it regularly had its windows smashed, but the thing we found was that very bright lights worked to considerably reduce vandalism."
She said lighting was a key recommendation from Neighbourhood Watch, only the Katherine Post Office had taken on board.
"To have your place lit up is cheaper than having windows smashed."
A string of businesses and community groups have been targeted over the past week, despite police statistics revealing crime has reduced.
Alderman Elizabeth Clark criticised the judiciary saying there were no repercussions.
"The BMX Club put up a steel door, so they attack it with an axe. There are no repercussions and as a result any new things we do have we have to consider what will happen.
"It is no wonder why we can't have nice things, it is just going to get vandalised."
Alderman Peter Gazey pushed the council to step up and act on the public's concerns.
"The trees along the main street were supposed to be trimmed so the CCTV cameras would have a clear view, and they were not," he said.
"There are three lights on the footpath on the main street that are not working.
"In our car park next to the cinema, a solar light is not working; lights at Herbert Court have not been working for six weeks. We are not following up.
"We have to make sure we are helping and voicing concerns for the public."
Mrs Miller said she would be meeting with Katherine Police and the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics to discuss the matters.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.
