‘I don’t feel safe’: deliberate Moonah car fire part of area’s rising crime

At 5am in the pitch-black morning, Moonah resident David Blake woke up to a fiery explosion, the latest in a string of crimes in the suburb. See vision of the arson attack:

CCTV footage has captured a car being set alight in the pitch-black of night in Moonah as crime in the Glenorchy municipality continues to spiral out of control.

Four security cameras at David Blake’s Wendel Court home captured a masked individual scoping out his yard and his next-door neighbour’s car at about 5am on Sunday.

Out of the camera’s view, the masked person manages to set fire to the ute parked at the rear of the neighbour’s property, creating a fiery explosion skyward that awakens the street.

The car blaze sent a mass explosion through the small Wendel Court neighbourhood caught on CCTV. Picture: supplied.

The man then quickly escapes over Mr Blake’s fence and to the rear of the yard.

Mr Blake said this is the second time someone has attempted to set fire to the car, also capturing a person lurking around his property.

“If I could, I would leave the property, but this is social housing and I can’t go anywhere else,” he said.

“This is a bad street and a bad area and I don’t feel safe.”

Mr Blake sought the permission of his neighbours to speak, stating they were distraught from the loss of the ute, the last memory of their father who had passed six months ago.

The torched vehicle at a Wendel Court home. Picture: supplied.

“It’s sad after the fact, but I was so focused on the fire and whether it would spread to their house or my house and fence or the gas line right next to the car,” he said.

“I just grabbed my hose and drenched the lawn, the fence and as much of the fire as I could.”

According to Mr Blake, both fire and police attended the scene, police also taking a copy of the CCTV footage.

He believes that not enough is being done to prevent these crimes in the area though, despite renewed efforts from the Glenorchy Council and Tasmania Police through Police Operation Saturate.

A masked individual surveyed the Wendel Court home with an unidentified bottle in hand, before trying to climb over resident David Blake's gate. Picture: supplied.

“We have people running amok 24/7, people snooping and casing out homes,” he said.

“The last time I called for help because of the people in my backyard, the cops didn’t even show up.

“I’ve spent over $2500 on security and cameras and it just hasn’t helped, I’m not safe.”

Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey said the council is continuing its work with Police and other government agencies to ‘crackdown’ on crime in the area.

“Unfortunately, the impacts of crime on victims, and other residents is something we all too often have to deal with as a community,” she said.

“We want people to feel safe, which is why we are particularly focusing on reducing instances of crime and anti-social behaviour in our CBD areas, but we acknowledge that crime can occur in any area.”

Part of addressing the spread of crime is through community and business engagement events,

including a business event on August 28 and a public safety meeting on September 11.

“People are urged to attend these sessions which will inform a roundtable forum aiming to deliver not only better responses to crime, but to develop long term programs to reduce crime in our community and help everyone feel safer in our city,” Ms Hickey said.

Tasmania Police confirmed their attendance at the Wendel Court fire on Sunday, calling on information from the public.

“Police are investigating an incident where a vehicle was deliberately set on fire on Wendel Court at West Moonah about 5am Sunday,” a Police spokeswoman said.

“Anyone with information in relation to the fire, or suspicious activity in the area around the time is asked to contact Glenorchy CIB on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania at 1800 333 000.

Neighbour David Blake tried desperately to subdue the flames with a garden hose. Picture: supplied.