When Scott, a 61 year old pensioner had his housing commission unit broken into last week, he did what anyone would do, and he called the police.

The Goonellabah local said he was disappointed by the lack of response he got from local police and is now feeling stressed - and frightened to be in his own home.

Read more news: Covid update: Lismore cases numbers up again

“I’d gone to a medical appointment and was out for the morning,” he said.

"When I got home at 1pm, I saw the front door had been jimmied off and my place had been trashed and stuff destroyed and thrown everywhere.

“I had money hidden because I’d sold my motorbike for $7,000 and was keeping the money to pay for my health issues.

"My life savings were stolen."

“I rang police and was waiting for ages to get a case number, but was told they didn’t know if they could send anyone up. 

“I was scared and I’d been told not to touch anything. So I sat on the bath and waited for the police. My blood pressure was rising and I couldn’t find my medication in the mess. 

“When nothing happened for six hours, I contacted Crime Stoppers and they contacted Lismore Police.

Police arrive

“At about 9.30pm the police finally arrived and helped me wedge the door shut so I could secure the place.

“Then the crime scene investigator came the next morning and took forensics, fingerprints and DNA from a can drink.

“But when I rang up the next day to give them a list of stolen items, I was told the case had been closed already.

“I got the feeling from police that I would just have to put up with it. They said ‘even if we catch them, they won’t get prosecuted’.

“I was told things like, ‘if you are in a housing commission unit, you shouldn’t have any money here’.

Witnesses?

“My neighbor said she heard something in my flat, but thought I was rearranging furniture. 

“Other residents don’t want to get involved because they are frightened.

“I know there are undesirable people living in the unit above, selling drugs and things into the night.

“A friend of theirs slept in the car park here and saw me go out Tuesday morning – and I even have the rego number of the car involved.

Housing commission

“This housing commission complex is supposed to be an over 50s place and there are young people living here. 

“When I contacted the housing providers about it, they said maybe in about three years I can get a transfer to another place.

“I don’t want to be treated like this and I want to know why didn’t the police follow through? 

“The woman on the police phone said they were busy with Covid.”

Richmond District Police Superintendent Scott Tanner.

Police response

The Lismore App contacted Richmond District Police Superintendent Scott Tanner about the situation. 

Supt Tanner said it was untrue that the case was closed.  

“The matter is still under investigation and we have forensic evidence retrieved from the property,” he said.

“We take all reports of crime seriously. When we spoke to the man, it appeared he was happy with the police response.

“Police procedure is to check any CCTV footage and canvas neighborhoods for witnesses and look at suspect patterns of behavior that may lead us to the perpetrators.

“Covid has not impacted on police ability to meet community demands and we have plenty of police and contingencies in place to make sure they are always available.”