In Warrnambool, Victoria, where we are from, we never locked the doors of our house or car.

We rarely heard about break-ins and I had no qualms about being at home at night on my own.

Since being here I have heard more than a few personal accounts of people’s homes being broken into – when they’re asleep in bed.

That terrifies me and I sleep fitfully at night.

Every sound I hear I shake my fiancé awake and make him go and investigate.

Every time our dog barks, I’m on edge.

The reporting of these crimes on Facebook has definitely elevated my stress levels about the issue and we no longer leave our doors open at home, let alone unlocked.

My fear hasn’t soured me on living in Mount Isa – it’s a great place to live, but I do fear I will become one of the residents I often hear about who wakes up one morning to find the house in disarray and items missing.

Perhaps my fear is elevated due to the fact I’m a mother of a three-and-a-half year old and I couldn’t think of anything worse than him waking up at night to a stranger in his room.

The opportunistic thieves should put themselves in the shoes of the innocent people they target so we can all feel safe.