Bunbury Police seek to alleviate community concerns of looting following tornado despite no formal reports

Bunbury Police have said they have not received any formal reports of looting as they put protective measures in place to ensure anti-social behaviour does not affect those dealing with the aftermath of Friday’s tornado. South Bunbury, College Grove and Withers residents voiced concerns over the security of their properties in the aftermath of the destruction, with one bringing it up in the City of Bunbury’s community meeting on Sunday. A concerned resident went so far as to claim they had spotted a drone over their house after the emergency. “We know there have been people wandering around down the street, casing some places, because we know they’re not neighbours,” she said. “We’re staying with friends (and) we’re worried there’ll be more damage.” But police have assured residents they are prepared to deal with this behaviour, with Bunbury acting police officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Ryan van der Heide highlighting increased security after the tornado. “Police stepped up proactive patrols of the area in the aftermath and during the initial recovery phase to deter this type of offending,” he said. Sen. Sgt van der Heide noted police had yet to see any reports of theft from impacted properties. “While police have responded to calls regarding suspicious persons in the area, there have been no reports of looting,” he said. Sen. Sgt van der Heide asked residents to remain on alert and immediately report anything out of the ordinary to police on 131 444.