Offenders from places such as Dareton and Lake Cargelligo have wreaked havoc when converging on Wagga to visit family and friends in recent years.

A suspicious spike in crime during the holiday season has fuelled concerns they have returned. 

It follows the arrests of two out-of-town juveniles this past week for break and enter offences. 

“Last time the boys from Dareton hit Wagga, our break and enters went up 125 per cent,” Detective Inspector Darren Cloake said. 

“They came into Wagga and they just smashed it.

“There is every possibility they’re back and driving up the crime.”

He issued a warning to people who may be housing out-of-town perpetrators.

“They are inviting the devil into their house, so to speak, and that can have consequences,” he said.

It comes after The Daily Advertiser revealed 75 break and enters have been reported in January 2017 – an average of four homes every night. 

The home invasions continue to plague suburbs like Tolland, Ashmont and Kooringal – with Estella, Boorooma and Tatton dodging the brunt of the spree. 

Combined, Ashmont and Tolland have tallied more than 35 break and enters in 2017. 

Bruce Street homeowner Susie Bevan, who was broken into early in January, said she now stores a golf club beside her bed in case she has to defend herself against home intruders.

“With all the horrible crimes lately, you have to be prepared in case you’re the next they come after,” she said.

“It seems like us poor people are just waiting for something to happen.”

“We should have a right to defend ourselves.” 

She has renewed calls for the Young Offender’s Act to be reviewed. 

“Most of these kids are completely aware of what they’re doing,” she said.

“There’s no reason for them to be immune to the laws.”