So angered by the increase in break-ins and vandalism, many in the community are calling for stronger police presence and the installation of closed circuit TV cameras in the shopping precinct.

The anti-social behaviour has caught the attention of police, who have been actively patrolling the area and last week made an arrest following a deliberately lit fire in a vacant Medowie field.

"We empathise with the community and we ask that people immediately report any criminal activity including registrations of vehicles involved in burnouts and the like," Inspector Dan Skelly said. "We encourage people with information to contact Raymond Terrace Police Station all hours on 4983 7599."

Business owners told the Examiner there had been an increase in the number of break-ins and an escalation in the number of motorists doing burnouts and wheelies around the neighbourhood.

Frightened resident Shirley Oakley said that car hoons had damaged her front lawn so badly she has had to pay for new dressing to repair tyre marks. "The sound of motorists racing up and down the street at night is frightening, and we should not have to put up with the property vandalism."

Medowie solicitor Brooke Vitnell said that the bad behaviour had increased in recent months with significant damage to private homes, public property and unsightly burn marks on many of Medowie's quiet streets.

"We are fed up with hoons keeping residents up at night, wrecking their front gardens, community areas and parks, harassing shoppers and making the streets unsafe," Ms Vitnell said.

"Many of them start their burnouts and races in the early hours of the morning by waking residents, which is creating community unease."

Ms Vitnell said that CCTV around the business district was needed and a greater police presence in the community, especially after hours where crime and anti-social behaviour had become a major issue.

Greg Brown, from Dowlings, said that the break-ins and vandalism in the Medowie shopping centre seemed to come and go in batches, which would make it difficult for police to catch the culprits. "It was only a couple of months ago that we had a spate of break-ins but they seem to have dropped off now."

The Little Pantry's Zali Morcom said that she had witnessed speeding drivers flying through the nearby [Peppertree Road] thoroughfare all hours of the day. "We are constantly in fear of an accident."

Heads Up hairdressers Bre Braggins and Kloe Kropp believe the increase in street hooning could be a result of boredom brought on by the COVID restrictions. "There have been a couple of collisions in the carpark caused by cars hooning about."

Pacific Dunes general manager Kurt Linde said that the beautifully maintained area on the corner of Medowie Road and South Street had been ripped to pieces. "It's a shame this beautiful space has become a playground for hoons."

"Medowie is a booming area with a lot of new homes and estates and we want people to feel safe. These motorists show no respect and are becoming more brazen."