I've been in Perth for over 3 and half years now, and after initial trepidation have settled down and am now enjoying my life here.

But...

Is it just me, or has violent crime escalated scarily over the past year or so in Perth?

It seems that every morning there are reports of armed break-ins, hold-ups etc etc.

Just this week off the top of my head I can recall an 84 year old woman in a nursing home being stabbed in the chest, the manager of a caravan park being beaten and robbed, several armed home invasions, shop owners being threatened with syringes/knives/guns and robbed.

I'm not sure if they're being reported more, or that violence is on the increase. But it's bloody worrying.

Probably caused by people from the Gold Coast on holiday.....I blame the cheap airlines

It does sound exactly like what we are seeing on this side of the country, the Gold Coast has gone crazy. Not sure what the answer is really.

Stop watching TV, stop reading newspapers. All of a sudden you'll find your perceived levels of safety skyrocket and life will feel safe and normal again.

It's just you

I must admit I don't read papers very often but do watch the news. As I asked in another thread is it better to be blissfully ignorant of these things ? I guess in some ways it is.

There are certainly plenty of articles out there that comment on the escalating violence in Perth as well as many other places. Like I said I don't know what the reasons are, young people drinking more ? More and more violence on TV and the Internet ? There are probably plenty of reasons for the increase.

In the UK you would think it was a lawless African state if you listened to the news or read certain papers every day. The reality for 99% of people was that it was no different.

what you think there's crime on the Gold Coast? ...

Not now. They're all over here committing crimes

If you believed the news you would have all windows and doors barricaded and never set foot outside. Perspective people, please.

If you know of any cheap airlines please let me know - the way ticket prices are shooting up is criminal. Just paid out $2500 for return flights ADL-BNE for two adults and 3 children under 8 - for not much more I could get them all to the UK and back.

Tiger's supposed to be flying again soon. 50% chance of arriving in one piece with them.

So the news reports of these crimes are lies?

I'm not sure what 'perspective' has to do with it. It's pretty clear that these crimes are taking place. The news I listen to has senior police giving details of the crimes.

You can't bury your head in the sand and pretend this stuff doesn't happen.

Edit: or maybe you can? You'd be leading a pretty sheltered life though.

I acknowledge it happens but don't dwell on it. If you do put it in perspective and realise that Perth is a metro area of roughly 1.5 million. I haven't googled but this has to be the combined population of say Birmingham and Manchester together and I am sure half the crimes in those cities don't get any column inches. It is all about staying safe yourself, protecting your loved ones and your property and staying away as best you can from dodgy areas.