The 77-year-old woman and 80-year-old man asked to remain anonymous out of fear speaking out would bring further retaliation against them.

The man initially moved to Ashmont 12 years ago, and his friend moved in with him five years ago.

Since then, they have been the target of multiple incidents ranging from damage and vandalism to break-ins and arson.

"It started with the car being set on fire," the woman said.

"Then we planted some trees out the front, and they cut it down. One of them was tough and kept growing, but they kept cutting them down.

"When they started riding their motorcycles around late at night, I said listen, 'we have to build a fence'."

They then paid to have a fence installed as an added measure against any unwanted people on their property.

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But it did nothing. Instead, the pair would often look out the window to see young people standing on it or swinging on the gate door.

"I could hear them laughing about it," the woman said.

"Then they tried to break in."

"We have an air-conditioning unit that they pulled the framework away from to try and get in," the man said.

"They put their hand in and tried to reach up to open the window, but I heard it."

In another incident, the man was asleep when he heard a noise on the front enclosed verandah. After unlocking the front door and stepping out to investigate, he saw a chair knocked to the floor, which was still moving.

"I just missed them," the man said.

"He told me, 'I have no idea how they broke in," the woman said.

"Then I saw straight away they had cut through the plastic sheeting to open the door.

"We never thought that could happen, so now we have ordered some metal reinforcements."

It has not just been at their home, but sometimes the woman does not feel safe even just trying to catch the bus.

"One of them came up to and asked me for some cash," she said.

"I said 'no, I don't have any', and they got really quite aggressive with me. Then when I came home, they could see where I live.

"They are young and in the street, and I don't think they go to school."

The man said when he moved into Ashmont 12 years ago there were not the same issues there is now.

All they can do is pay for reinforced locks and more robust materials around entry points because selling and moving is not an option.

"I am terrified," the woman said. "I am really scared, I must say."

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