CITIZENS patrolling streets in Melbourne’s northwest believe they wouldn’t be needed if there were enough police to fight crime. The Community Patrols, of around 35 people, respond to as many as a dozen calls a night from worried residents. Their area of operation spans Caroline Springs, Plumpton, Hillside, Taylors Hill, Burnside and Burnside Heights. But they say they are increasingly being called to suburbs further afield like Sydenham and Taylors Lakes. Volunteer Louie, who asked that his surname be withheld for safety reasons, said the Patrols had scaled back activity earlier this year, after they were criticised by Victoria Police and branded “vigilantes”. But activity was now stepping up again. Residents of Caroline Springs are patrolling their streets amid increased crime because police are too stretched to do so. The patrols typically respond to lower-level calls, such as reports of disturbances or of people acting suspiciously — incidents that police don’t always attend. Only a few nights ago, patrollers got a call from a Caroline Springs woman reporting a man in her backyard looking through her window. They arrived within five minutes. Police took 45 minutes to arrive because they were so overstretched, Louie said. “If there were more of them, we wouldn’t be doing this. There would be no need for us,” he said. The group is alerted via a Facebook page monitored by volunteers, who then notify patrollers by mobile phone. Regular patrols are also conducted. The Facebook site has more than 2300 followers. Residents of Caroline Springs are patrolling their streets amid increased crime because police are too stretched to do so. Louie said patrollers — who all juggled work and family responsibilities — contacted police about their activities, and advised those reporting incidents to do likewise. Residents — often single mums and older people worried about Melbourne’s recent spate of home invasions — have reported a greater sense of security, even though to some the concerns they are raising could sometimes seem minor. “We are seeing a lot of things happening,’’ Louie said. “Crime is high — everyone knows that. “I feel for the police. There is only so much they can do. “We are not paid to do this. “We are doing this for the benefit of our community. “We band together — that is what we do. “We are happy if someone just says, ‘Thank you’.” WES HOSKING, Herald Sun October 5, 2016 10:00pm