Trouble in Paradise: Town on NSW coast rocked by crime wave

The stunning town of South West Rocks, home to many ex-Sydney retirees, has been hit with break-ins, car thefts and vandalism in recent months. Locals are pleading for more police.

Residents of a coastal paradise say they are “living in fear” and frightened” due to ongoing criminal activity by a local group of teenagers and the absence of regular police patrols.

South West Rocks, which is home to many ex-Sydney retirees, has had teens armed with machetes crawling through “doggy doors”, windows smashed with rocks and popular small businesses looted for cash and alcohol.

The Daily Telegraph travelled to the town in recent days and heard harrowing stories from victims of crime.

“They have been known to come into your home in the middle of the night, and this happened to me personally, remove your car keys, phone and wallet and take off with your car” said local resident John Roydhouse.

John Roydhouse, a victim of a home invasion which saw criminals with machetes come through his doggy door. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Roydhouse told The Daily Telegraph the thieves had broken into his house through the “doggy door” and when he woke up there was a young man “holding a machete” and another behind the wheel of his car.

During the visit this masthead heard stories of thefts at caravan parks and holiday houses, restaurants broken into and cars stolen for joyrides before being torched out of town.

There is widespread belief that the same offenders have been repeatedly caught by police but are often seen on the street shortly after.

Last month at an inquiry into regional crime, Assistant Police Commissioner Dave Waddell told parliament said there were “ongoing issues where young people are bailed, they go back to an address, there is a lack of supervision and they continue to offend.”

South West Rocks has a police station, although it was unmanned during this masthead’s mid-week visit to town.

To report a crime, people are invited to press a red button next to the front door. However, when tested, this service rang out and was unresponsive.

South West Rocks has been experiencing an unprecedented level of youth crime with multiple breaking and car thefts with young criminals coming from surrounding towns to plunder locals. Picture: Richard Dobson

South Wests Rocks Police Station, which is not Picture: Richard Dobson

The back-up option for residents is a second intercom which rings through to Kempsey Police Station, which is 35 kilometres away, in a town that has some of the worst crime issues in NSW.

A prominent South West Rocks small business owner said their store had been broken into multiple times, with thieves “turning the place upside down.” On other occasions, rocks had been thrown at their premises.

“People are frightened. There are elderly residents here living in fear” said the shop owner, who asked not to be named.

The Surf Life Saving Club and Maritime Precinct have also had multiple times in recent months, with thieves causing thousands of dollars worth of damage while stealing cash and alcohol.

The South West Rocks Surf Life Saving Club - which has suffered multiple break-ins this year, including in August and November, Supplied CCTV

The South West Rocks Surf Life Saving Club - which has suffered multiple break-ins this year, including in August and November, Supplied CCTV

Mick Adams, a long-time member of the Surf Life Saving Club said: “they broke all the windows on our courtesy bus and smeared paint all over the front of the building.”

“This is a big retirement village. Our beach was voted second best beach in Australia. But this could drive tourists away,” warned Noel Selby, a local resident.

Noel Selby, a South West Rocks resident, said it was time locals “demanded” more police in town. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Selby said it was “time that we didn’t ask for more police, we demanded them. People are tearing their hair out. We have to have something done.This is a beautiful place and deserves better.”

South West Rocks is home to roughly 5,000 people but balloons in size over the Christmas break. Its main attraction - Horseshoe Bay - was named the second best beach in the country by Tourism Australia in 2022.

Car windows smashed in South Wests Rocks in November, Supplied CCTV

While the incidents of crime reduced in recent months, locals fear they are ramping up heading into the busy holiday period.

NSW crime statistics alone don’t point to a drastic problem in South West Rocks. In fact, the nearby town of Kempsey is far worse. However, it was the primary talking amongst locals, all who had directly and indirectly been impacted. There was also a feeling that the rare police presence has resulted in some crimes going unreported.

Michael Kemp, the state MP for Oxley which includes South West Rocks, has been raising the issue of regional crime consistently in parliament.

Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp MP, photographed at The Domain on a visit to Sydney. Friday 15/11/2024. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

Mr Kemp said “(crime) has been the biggest issue that has come through my office over the last 12 months. Calls, emails, messages. The community has said they are feeling unsafe in their homes.

“We need 24 hour operational policing to be present in South West Rocks.” Mr Kemp claimed.

In a statement, Police Minister Yasmin Catley said she understood “the very real concerns about crime in our regions, including South West Rocks, and I can assure you that police are doing everything they can to address them.”

NSW Police added that they “conduct regular taskings and patrols of the South West Rocks area and take every opportunity to ensure the safety of the local community.”

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