Most mornings, Flaxmere resident Melanie Petrowski will wake up to see the evidence of yet another late-night hoon around her neighbourhood - the black tyre marks, car parts strewn on the road and damage done to properties.
That is, if she hadn't already been woken by the noise of screeching wheels at unearthly hours.
Yet the events that unfolded on July 29 proved to be the final straw, when a group of youths lost control, crashing through two fences - one being Petrowski's, writing off her flatmate's car and the offending vehicle, as well as dislodging gas bottles connected to her house. It was 10.30pm.
Emergency services were called to the Chatham Rd address on July 29 after a boy racer caused extensive damage. Photo/Warren Buckland
"I heard some wheels squealing like they were doing doughnuts right outside my house and the next thing I know, there was this almighty thud and the whole house shook.
"I was quite hysterical, to be honest. I was in shock but also angry. I could foresee this happening because only a week prior a 15-year-old smashed into my neighbour's fence."
Petrowski, who works fulltime and is also a student, has had to take time off work to contact insurance companies and sort the damage. She expects it will cost thousands of dollars to repair everything and replace her flatmate's car.
Melanie Petrowski's flatmate's car was written-off after the late night smash. Photo/Warren Buckland.
Hastings District Flaxmere councillor Henare O'Keefe said it is an age-old problem.
"When you get young men with flash cars and time on their hands, it is a recipe for not so good social activities. I don't want to stigmatise every young person with that brush, but it seems as though it has gotten worse."
He said while speed cameras, judder bars and other techniques were useful, at the end of the day it comes down to "personal responsibility".
"These speeding drivers, whoever they are, they've got to take some personal responsibility. You can change the speed limit - and we've been putting in those restrictions for quite some time - yet you still have these individuals who have the inclination to speed."
The fence was damaged. Photo/Melanie Petrowski
Petrowski believes there needs to be a track open to boy racers.
"Why can't they have a track for themselves to go out to for free and hoon around?"
Inspector Carla Gilmore said reports of illegal street racing remained stable but there had been an increase compared with three years ago.
"Police find these incidents occur particularly on rural roads and intersections, where driving behaviour like burnouts and racing are a risk to the safety of those involved and other road users."
The force of the crash caused a a big hole and gas bottles on the side of the house to be dislodged. Photo/Melanie Petrowski
Damage can be caused to the road surface and the local community can also suffer because of the high noise levels, Gilmore said.
"Police take this type of behaviour very seriously and have a number of methods used to identify and prosecute offenders."
Anyone dealing with the effects of such behaviour should report it to their local police or anonymously through Crimestoppers (0800 555 111), so appropriate action can be taken.
A community meeting and barbecue will be held at Ron Giorgi Park, Flaxmere, this Sunday at 2pm.
