Crime is constantly evolving into innovative new methods of obtaining money. When women are the sole occupant of a car they are urged to drive with their doors locked and not leave their handbag on the passenger seat. Opportunistic criminals took to attacking cars stopped at traffic lights, opening the unlocked passenger side door - and simply helping themselves to that handbag - which usually contained the woman's purse.
At least the vast majority of crimes do not involve violence. The most common form of criminal activity is described in police statistics as " Break, enter and steal ". Forcing entry into an unoccupied family home usually gives access to a trove of easily portable items that can be sold for money. The danger comes if that house happens to contain a sleeping shift worker and the burglar is surprised - and a fight ensures.
What chills the blood of ordinary citizens is random street crime in which the thief is indifferent to the safety of the victim, and this week brought an example of this in Wollongong.
A 42 year old dog walker was exercising his string of pooches as he walked the cycling track in the northern suburb of Bulli one morning. It was a hot day and he decided to sit on a seat and admire the view of the sea while he and the dogs rested. Two young men aged in the 17 or 18 age group approached, and one of them asked him for a cigarette - which he obligingly offered.
The other - standing behind the seat - suddenly whipped a piece of cord around his throat and exerted pressure until he lost consciousness. While he lay inert on the ground, they ransacked his wallet and made off with his cash, leaving without bothering to check if he was alive - or dead !
Causing a person to lose consciousness by restricting the airway can easily tip the balance - and result in death. The outcome depends on the length of time involved, together with the general state of health of the victim - and sheer luck. This could very easily have evolved into a murder case.
The perpetrators were young men of what appeared to be a Pacific Islander appearance. The fact that the victim recovered and gave police a good description will no doubt result in scrutiny of the cctv network - and most likely an arrest, but the fact that an attack happened in broad daylight on a man innocently going about his business will cause disquiet in the community.
In particular, the fact that this happened in what most Wollongong people would regard as a " safe " suburb will cause many to curtail their normal activities. There are obviously many parts of the world that citizens would consider unsafe - but surely walking dogs beside the sea in a quiet residential neighbourhood would not be one of them.
It seems that today the " risk factor " does not exclude the better postcodes !
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