THORNLANDS residents say youth vandalism, shoplifting and other anti-social behaviour has become a blight on the suburb.
Fed-up locals have voiced their concerns on community Facebook pages, saying the issues are getting out of hand and calling for government intervention to stop crime in its tracks.
Residents have complained about graffiti, street fights, bad language, shoplifting, park damage, littering and motorbikes racing in suburbia.
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Resident Cam Ryan said issues in Thornlands seemed to be getting worse and he would only take his daughters to William Stewart Park when it was quiet.
"The last few weeks motorbikes have been racing around every day," he said.
"We have heard some kinds of explosions going off near the skate park.
"It seems to be the same kind of group that hang around the area."
He estimated those involved in racing bikes were aged about 17 or 18.
Videos and photos posted on social media showing some of the issues have drawn a bitter reaction from residents.
Cr Paul Golle said people needed to contact police rather than posting to Facebook and stirring up outrage.
"If your house was on fire, would you call the local councillor?," he said.
"If you saw a crime being committed would you contact Facebook or the police?
"One resident asked me 'can't I order police to sit there in a patrol car and watch the park all the time?'
"I can't do that. Police resources are allocated based on information and intelligence.
"It is pointless residents jumping on Facebook."
Mr Ryan said he had called police on a few occasions, as anti-social behaviour at Thornlands was an almost daily occurrence.
"When we first moved in, a four-wheel-drive ute got in there (to William Stewart Park) and they were doing burn-outs," he said.
"They did a fair bit of damage and the next day there was a big cricket match on. They were out there playing and there were big tire tracks out there."
Several community forums have been held to discuss Thornlands youth issues, while pamphlets have been dropped in letter boxes detailing who residents should contact to report concerns.
"The key message is, unless residents start reporting issues, police resources can't be allocated to fix the problem," Cr Golle said.
"What the public does is go 'I can see graffiti, I am going to put it on social media and cause outrage'.
"In the meantime 50 people have seen it, they're angry, but all it would have taken is a 30 second phone call to council or jumping onto the Policelink website."
Mr Ryan said residents had tried to put dirt bike riders on notice.
"I have stopped one myself and I have heard neighbours telling them to get out of here," he said.
"People who live in the area say they have had enough and don't want to take their kids down there (to William Stewart Park) anymore, it's getting that bad."
Police and Redlands MP Kim Richards have been contacted for comment.
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