In the latest incident, Bouffler Close resident Terry Barnhurst was woken by flashing lights around 1am yesterday to find his garbage bin alight on the kerb, and fire brigade officers working to extinguish the blaze. 

But Mr Barnhurst said this kind of activity was nothing new to the residents of Bouffler Close. 

He said the street was constantly targeted by vandals and criminals who have unlimited backdoor access to the quiet cul-de-sac through a convenient laneway, and residents have to fight to secure their properties. 

Mr Barnhurst, who has lived in Bathurst since 1994, said he was aware of the area’s reputation, but he had no idea of the true extent of what he would be facing when he moved in three years ago.

“When I first came here I didn’t envision this level of crime,” he said.

Mr Barnhurst said there had been attempted break and enters, burglaries, vehicles stolen and damage inflicted to properties in Bouffler Close in the past 18 months.

The criminal activity has been enough to drive away one resident, who moved out of the street in the past week, and it appears others may not be far behind him.

“I’m aware that some of the residents aren’t very happy,” Mr Barnhurst said. 

Residents have taken it upon themselves to protect their properties by installing sensor lights at the front and back of their houses, and monitoring other residents’ properties throughout the day.

They have also contacted council on several occasions with requests to close the laneway between Bouffler Close and Tyndall Street.

They argue that the laneway is a key access point for criminals and blocking it off will reduce the level of crime.

State Member for Bathurst Paul Toole has also been contacted about the issue.

“We are aware that the government has a policy in place to reduce the amount of access laneways within disadvantaged areas to reduce the level of illegal activities within these areas and thus we are asking for assistance with this laneway in being closed,” residents wrote in a letter to the MP. 

Mr Toole has responded, but there has yet to be a resolution.

Mr Barnhurst believes residents have been “proactive”, but says their letters and phone calls to council have gone unnoticed and they have had a “gutful”. 

“This has been going on now for a number of months with neither the council or Department of Housing taking any interest in our issue as they say it is the other’s responsibility,” the letter to Mr Toole explained. 

“It’s frustrating because there is an easy fix to this issue,” Mr Barnhurst said. 

“The council needs to come good and say ‘this is where we’re at and this is what we’re going to do for you’.”

The Bouffler Close residents are hoping council will take action after the latest attack and that the laneway will be closed.

“By having that closed off they will only have one access point into the close,” Mr Barnhurst said. “That would solve this ongoing issue.”