Nita was lying awake in bed at 2am in her unit in Casino. She was waiting for the radio to come on. She looked up and a figure was standing by her bed.
He wore a hoodie, was barefoot and looked about 16, Nita said. He fled when Nita screamed. “I’ll never forget it,” Nita, 86, said. That was a month ago.
Nita said the intruder came into her unit through a narrow laundry window. He lifted out the glass slats and put his arm through and opened the outside door.
Casino Police came and spent three hours taking fingerprints, she said. “Police said they are targeting the area because of the elderly,” Nita said.
It isn’t the first time there has been trouble at the units.
Nita bought her unit 31 years ago after her husband died. She paid $60,000 for the unit and pays a fortnightly fee of $100 for maintenance.
These days, Nita is largely housebound. And she isn’t feeling safe.
They used to steal things out of the garage and off the porch but now they are coming into our homes, she said.
In the past, they’ve gone through my late husband’s toolbox and taken my walker, Nita said.
She has put up security lights, put on stronger locks and wants security screens.
“I don’t feel safe here,” she said. “I don’t want to live here anymore.”
Nita has had a hip replacement and most of what she needs including medicine is delivered to her home.
The units are owned by St Marys Catholic Church and Nita would like to see them do more to help elderly residents feel secure.
Despite her $100 a fortnight maintenance payment, she pays for new security measures herself such as new locks. She’d like to see a fence around the units like a gated community.
Indynr.com contacted the church to ask about security measures for the site. They said they were unable to give an immediate reply because the person dealing with the site was away. We are expecting a reply within the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, Nita feels unsafe in her own home and sleeps with the lights on.
(Surname withheld)
This article appeared on indyNR.com on 6 September 2022.
