Thievery in Newcastle

Has anyone else been noticing an increase in stealing in Newie? I though they were petty ones. Someone stole my tomato plant from the lower level balcony. They left the pot intact so it was quite bizarre how they just uprooted the plant.

My neighbor had his bike stolen from right outside the door. It was stored right by the stairs and nobody could see it unless they specifically came looking for things to steal.

And now my friend has had a break in to her house while she was sleeping upstairs. It is quite unnerving to think of people in her house while she was upstairs with the kids.

I always thought Newcastle was a relatively safe place if you avoided some sketchy areas but now I am a bit on the edge.