Break-in bids foiled

RESIDENTS of at least six properties in Yamba's Crystal Waters area got "the shock of their life" on Tuesday night when they were woken by intruders trying to break in to their homes.

Between 1.30am and 3am the perpetrators roamed streets including Osprey Dr, The Halyard, Admiralty Crt and Gumnut Rd, armed with a screwdriver casing out properties.

Two residents who wish to remain anonymous due to fear of repercussions told the Daily Examiner of their terrifying experiences that happened in different streets, almost an hour apart.

One resident of the Crystal Waters area said they heard noises in their backyard around 2.30am and went to investigate.

When they realised there was a person in the backyard, the resident said she screamed at the person to get lost.

"We have got three fluorescent lights out the back of our house that light up the whole backyard and I saw one offender who was dressed in a black t-shirt and dark long pants climb over our next-door neighbour's fence," the resident said.

The resident said she was confident the offender was of indigenous appearance.

"I could definitely see his dark skin when all the lights went on."

After the adrenaline rush of catching a person on their property, the resident said it was difficult to sleep for the rest of the night.

"We were lucky, nothing was broken or nothing was taken, it was just the scare factor of the whole experience," she said.

After the offender scaled the fence he ran across their next-door neighbour's yard, down the side of the house and down the street.

The resident's husband drove around nearby streets in his car for the next 30 minutes trying to spot the perpetrator but without any luck.

The second resident said he and his wife were alerted to intruders' presence when security lights at the front and rear of their house went on around 1.45am.

"I got up and there was two of them having a look in through the flywire door at the back veranda," the resident said.

"I challenged them and they bolted."

"I said to them police are on their way and they took off."

The resident said he reported the incident to police and supplied them with two items the intruders dropped in his yard.

"One must have dropped a screwdriver on the back veranda and around the side one dropped some sunglasses."

Police warned residents to be vigilant with security over the Christmas holidays and to secure their home if they go on holidays or even when they are at home. Anyone with any information on the incidents should call Grafton police or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.