Tassie's streets of violence
SALLY GLAETZER
August 19, 2009 02:00am
STREET crime in Moonah is worse than in Sydney or Melbourne, say frustrated locals.
They are fed up with constant vandalism and late-night brawls and are calling on the Glenorchy City Council and Tasmania Police to do something about it.
Business owners want the council to set up security cameras in the main street and they want regular police patrols.
"Last week there was a punch-up in the middle of the road, a bloke was on the ground with people all around," Moonah restaurant owner Milan Mihelcic said yesterday.
"Eventually they all left and (the victim) got up off the ground and got in a taxi and by the time police arrived it was all over."
Mr Mihelcic, who runs the popular Croatian restaurant Split with his wife Nada, said he regularly phoned police about brawls, or disturbances such as teenagers damaging signs or pushing rubbish bins over.
He said patrol cars often took too long to arrive or did not bother to turn up at all.
"(Street fighting) happens every Friday and Saturday night here. This place is worse than Melbourne or Sydney," he said.
"I think police are afraid of them ... why would they get into a situation where they could get knifed or kicked or whatever?"
Police figures show crime decreasing in Moonah but Mr Mihelcic said things were getting worse.
"When we came here to Moonah two years ago the occupancy was 100 per cent, now there are five empty shops," he said.
A main-street shop had been vacant for seven months, he said.
Leah Buckney was tired of paying to replace windows at her business, Cafe 73 on Main.
Sometimes they were smashed, but mostly the problem was vandals who etched graffiti tags onto the glass.
"Paint you can paint over but when it's etched there's nothing you can do," Ms Buckney said.
"We'd like a higher police presence. There are no foot patrols through here whatsoever."
She said shops, including Harris Scarfe and Chickenfeed, regularly had their front windows smashed on Friday and Saturday nights.
"I don't think there's any limit on the age (of offenders) really. Sometimes, when it's the drunk ones, they're in their 30s or so," she said.
Despite the problems, Ms Buckney was determined to see things improve.
"I feel safe here. It's a good area," she said.
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