Bendigo home invasion crisis leaves residents ‘terrified’ as Premier Jacinta Allan admits ‘we got it wrong’

Victims of a terrifying home invasion in the Premier’s home town of Bendigo have slammed soft bail laws as Jacinta Allan admits “we got it wrong”.

Home invasion victims in Bendigo’s youth crime crisis are living in fear. Picture: David Smith.

A Bendigo couple has been left unable to sleep, terrified thieves will return after their house keys were taken during a frightening home invasion.

Armed teenagers kicked down the backdoor of the Quarry Hill home, nicking cash and keys before making off with one of their cars.

The woman, who spoke to the Herald Sun on the condition of anonymity, said she was worried the youths would return and seek retribution.

“We’re not weak or scared people,” she said.

Youth criminals kicked in the backdoor of a Bendigo home amid a home invasion crisis.

“I won’t give them that power over us.

“They’re just pathetic little sewer rats.”

Despite the stoicism, the woman said she “doesn’t sleep” following their terrifying ordeal.

“It disrupts your life and makes you live differently and I really hate that,” she said.

“They come into your home, it’s your safe place.”

She said the courts’ approach to youth criminals was “absolutely pathetic”, with the judiciary seemingly more interested in the rights of perpetrators than victims when elderly people in Bendigo were scared to leave their houses.

“They shouldn’t have to live like that,” she said.

Youth crime in Bendigo is on the rise.

Bendigo local Gwen Kerr, fed up with the rising crime rates in her city and the target of a home invasion herself, started a series of demonstrations outside the Premier’s local office calling for change.

“I have voted Labor my whole life but not this year,” she said.

In her terrifying incident, the woman in her 70s, was sent running “screaming” from her home when a youth offender ran into her home while he fled police.

Bendigo home invasion victim Gwen Kerr outside Jacinta Allan’s office on Mollison St.

“I am frightened, I won’t go out after dark, the fear is that this will happen again,” she said.

And as recently as Thursday, Ms Kerr said, she was left “so frightened” by a young girl “carrying on and abusing staff” at the Bendigo railway station.

“We don’t want to be living in a community of fear,” she said.

Bendigo investigation and response manager detective Inspector Dan Davison said police were cracking down, arresting several offenders involved in “serious invasions of privacy and safety”.

“Victims are left feeling unsafe in their own homes, and that is something we simply cannot accept,” he said.

“Whether it’s in residential areas or the CBD, we are actively working to prevent further offending, arrest offenders and ensure the community is protected.

“This is not a game — if you commit these crimes, you will be arrested and put before the courts.”

Federal Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean called on the state government to work with local police and the council to find solutions to the youth crime crisis.

Federal National candidate for Bendigo Andrew Lethlean.

Mr Lethlean promised, if elected, he would ensure $360,000 of federal government money went to installing 57 cameras throughout Bendigo’s CBD.

He also said he wanted to sit down with community leaders within the city to find solutions.

“This is my town, this is my region, we want to make a difference,” he said.

In response to the demonstrations outside her office on Mollison St Premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said: “I can absolutely understand and agree with that sentiment”, acknowledging her government “got it wrong” on softening bail laws, resulting in the plague of home invasions by youth criminals.

Concerned Bendigo residents demonstrating outside Jacinta Allan’s office on Mollison St.

Ms Allan said she “understands” why Bendigo residents don’t feel safe and their feedback had a “big impact” on the decision to “crack down” on repeat offenders.

“We’ve got to zero in on this repeat offending, of some of the worst offences,” she said.

Ms Allan also promised to increase funding in crime prevention and programs designed to rehabilitate repeat youth offenders.

“We’ve got to acknowledge that there needs to be more support for our first time offenders, how do we divert them away.”

Ms Allan’s proposed new bail laws will be tabled in parliament on Tuesday, where the bill could be passed with a “sense of urgency” and be law by the end of the week, if the Opposition came to the table without “shifting the goalposts or finding excuses” not to support it.