Outback town under attack by criminals as locals plan 'bush justice' (2024)

It's the Australian city where dogs are poisoned, drones are used to spot empty homes and the crime rate has jumped 75 per cent in just one year.

Broken Hill, in far west New South Wales, is today revealed as the fastest growing crime capital of the country where fed-up families are warning it's time to use 'bush justice'.

The outback Australian town, which was once known as the prosperous Silver City because of it's mining heritage, is now plagued by atrocity.

Shocking figures show a 75 per cent increase in break and enters, a 36 rise in malicious damage to properties and more and jump in assaults and car theft.

The concerning trend has some locals calling for 'bush justice' to set things straight.

But it is the rise of illegal drones hovering in suburban backyards that has many residents concerned.

'One came past our house at about 2pm. It flew slowly so I have no doubts it was on a mission of some sort. We work hard for all we have, I would hate to think someone is staking our homes. We live in a really good area where the crime rate is low - I'm concerned that's about to change,' one woman told Daily Mail Australia.

Another woman claimed her dog had been barking at drones flying through her yard at night. She didn't know what was making her dog so upset for so long until she noticed the flying camera hovering in the yard after hearing a very vivid buzzing noise.

'I feel violated,' she said.

'Since then I have been pretty paranoid making sure my blinds on my windows are shut especially at night because that's when I saw it,' she said.

'The streets aren't safe at night anymore.'

Another woman who has had to pay more than $400 this year alone to fix damage by vandals on her property.

'Just last week several letterboxes including my own were knocked over in people's yards, myself and six of the other houses on my block were knocked over or stolen. Our car has been egged twice, as have the other cars in our street,' she said

'Whenever there's a rush of vandalism it seems to be in the same area, like a group of people or a person is just wandering along aimlessly destroying stuff along their way.

Other victims have claimed to have spent thousands fixing their homes after vandals and would-be thieves damaged them trying to get in.

'My in laws spent almost $1000 fixing their roller door after someone broke it trying to get in. My best friend had to replace all of her tyres two months ago after they were slashed and that was around $600,' said one woman.

A worrying trend of people hurting dogs - or cutting them lose also appears to have people in town worried.

With one dog owner sharing a picture of rat bait wrapped in bread - a deadly treat tossed over her fence for her dog.

But Daily Mail Australia heard claims that people have targeted every dog in some streets.

'There was also a rush of people who were just walking up and down late at night whistling to see if there were dogs in a yard before breaking in, and a BIG rush of dog baiting in the last few months.'

Locals tend to believe the crime spate was at its worst before Christmas last year – and fear the build up in August reflects a similar trend – with the criminals coming out of hibernation.

One woman is planning on moving her family from the area after her 13-year-old step daughter was bashed by a group of girls in a 'main part of town' without any adults intervening.

'She has bruises and cuts on her face but she is mostly shocked and less sure of herself. The problem here is that people are bored so they bash people for fun or steal things for fun or try drugs for fun.' she said.

According to recently released crime data there were 12 more reported assaults this year than last. There were 88 more break, enter and steal offence and 94 more acts of malicious damage.

While the report showed the numbers spiking a note was made that the same numbers are a reduction to the 60-month trend.

'Compared with other centres with similar populations, Broken Hill remains a very safe community. Police through working with community and partners have achieved over the last five years significant reductions in crime,' the crime report found.

Private homes, businesses and clubs all appeared to be targeted. One pre-school posted photographs online after being targeted a second time, while landlords angrily displayed pictures of their trashed homes.