THOUSANDS of residents have been banished from Wagga’s most prolific crime watchdog group as property offences continue to soar.
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It has been revealed roughly 2500 users are currently banned from the 6500-strong Wagga Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page.
The community-led organisation – which receives council funding and is bolstered by NSW Police – allows locals to share their crime-related news and experiences throughout the city.
The Daily Advertiser understands Wagga police often scour through members of the social media page to weed out lawbreakers and their associates.
Many users may have been denied access from the Facebook page because they are unknowingly “friends” with a criminal, according to the group’s administrators.
Wagga Neighbourhood Watch president Wayne Deaner said there are a number of different reasons why users have to be removed from the site.
“A lot of people continually breach the rules to the point where they start affecting the page,” he said.
“It’s very delicate because if the wrong person has access to the page, they can often see where and when things are happening and use that information for bad.
“We’re looking to branch out into the community anyhow, and put the social media stuff on the back foot.”
The debate comes hot on the heels of startling new statistics of property crime in Wagga.
Home invasions increased by 19 per cent this year with 803 reports, up from 675 in 2015 – according to December Bureau of Crime statistics.
Facebook user and Mount Austin resident Katherine Shields alleges she was vanquished from the group after merely enquiring about a car accident.
“I once commented on a post about an accident at the end of Mumford Street and that night I was deleted,” she said.
“Doesn't it kinda defeat the point of a neighbourhood watch page if half the neighbourhood can't even see it.”
She fears she could miss out on vital crime information as a result of being secluded.
“I’d really rather not miss out on something and be left in the dark,” she added.
It comes as robbery victims are turning to social media in a desperate attempt to identify criminals, serve justice and alleviate Wagga’s break-and-enter crisis.
