LIVING HELL
Horror neighbours terrorise Rasmussen street
TERRIFIED residents of a Townsville street are demanding help to deal with a group of outof- control neighbours.
Assaults, break and enters, drug use, domestic violence, public nuiscance and threats of violence are part of the daily lives of the residents of Saltbush Dr, Rasmussen.
Rikki Rankin has lived on the street for 19 years but i is now t to scared to sleep.
Ms Rankin ( pictured) said the State Government needed to take action against her neighbours, particularly a group of about 30 living in public housing.
“I won’t sleep at night until it’s sorted,” she said.
Townsville police said they had increased patrols around the neighbourhood.
RESIDENTS of a Townsville street are living in constant fear because of criminal and anti- social behaviour being committed by neighbours.
Assaults, break and enters, drug use, domestic violence, public nuisance and threats to kill have become regular occurrences for the residents of Saltbush Dr, Rasmussen.
They say several public housing properties caused issues but more than 30 people were understood to live in the three- bedroom house which is causing the most grief.
Rikki Rankin has lived on Saltbush Dr for 19 years and said 17 of those were peaceful.
Now, her morning routine is clearing smashed glass and syringes from her front lawn. She barely sleeps out of fear.
“We never used to have fences, we never used to have security screens, it wasn’t until they started coming through my window and walking over me,” Ms Rankin said.
“The first thing I check for in the mornings is dead bodies.
“( Someone) threatened to cut my throat last night and he was out the front of my place screaming abuse.
“Two weeks ago I stopped a man from choking a woman in my front yard – I chased after him with a garden rake.”
Ms Rankin said she was lucky to get two hours sleep a night.
She believes the state government needs to step in and remove many of the people living in the problem house.
“I won’t sleep at night until it’s sorted,” she said.
“Thirty people in a house is ridiculous.”
Desperate residents met with police and politicians at the Upper Ross Community Centre yesterday looking for solutions.
Indigenous elder Esme Fewquandie said she under- stood the pain residents were feeling and explained many of the offenders living in the street, particularly the youth criminals, had harsh backgrounds.
“I acknowledge what’s going on … I know what terrorising feelings are like,” Ms Fewquandie said.
“I’m not trying to make excuses for their behaviour.
“They have no value, they have no purpose, they have no direction, there is no boundaries, there is no restriction.
“No one is listening because their minds are enclosed in trauma”
Townsville police Inspector Joe Kitching said officers had increased patrols around the street and made several arrests.
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said the Department of Housing would assess what actions may need to be taken against troublemakers.
Mr Harper also thanked residents for reporting their concerns.
Cr Mark Molachino said Townsville City Council had organised a street sweeper to clear smashed glass and other rubbish from the street last week.
However, the litter was swiftly returning.
He said the council was looking into putting more lighting in the street to improve the safety of residents.