Roller shutters and blinds in Forrestdale

WA Police recorded 38 burglaries in Forrestdale in 2025. Across five years the count is little changed: 45 in 2021, 56 in 2024 and 38 in 2025, and every yearly count from 2017 to 2025 sat between 35 and 68.

The rate needs careful reading. Divided by the 1,027 residents counted at the 2021 Census, 38 burglaries gives 37.0 per 1,000, against a metropolitan rate of 4.0. A small population makes any rate jump around, and Forrestdale grew by an estimated 30.9% between 2021 and 2025, so the rate overstates. Commercial and industrial land also makes up 16.7% of the suburb, and police count homes and businesses together in the one burglary figure.

For a house or a business, a roller shutter is a physical barrier on windows and doors. It makes forced entry slower and noisier, and it adds to locks and lighting rather than standing in for them.

Housing in Forrestdale is overwhelmingly separate houses: 97.7% of occupied dwellings in 2021, compared with 77.8% across Greater Perth. The census counted no townhouses or flats. 78.9% of homes are owned, and 32.9% are owned outright.

That makes residential roller shutters the natural fit here, on bedrooms, living areas and glass doors. The rest of the picture is the 16.7% of the suburb that is commercial or industrial land, where commercial roller shutters close up a shop front, workshop or loading door.

For outdoor living, Slidetrack and crank handle blinds are both in our range, the second a good match for a patio where a motor is not needed.

Forrestdale is one of the localities on the City of Armadale Heritage List, adopted in 2023. The list's preamble says planning approval is required before any alterations, additions, demolition, signage or other development begins on a listed place. If your home is listed, that covers shutters, and the state exemption for single houses does not extend to heritage protected places either.

For an unlisted house, the exemption holds where the R-Codes apply and the work meets their deemed-to-comply provisions. Business premises are a different case. The City's CPTED checklist, which goes with every development application, asks that shop front security bars, shutters and doors allow observation of the street, and its Designing Out Crime policy wants roller shutters used as sparingly as possible.

The City's Security Incentive Scheme 2026/2027 lists roller shutters at $200, or $250 for Pensioner Concession, Health Care or WA Seniors Card holders. Seniors Card members may also qualify for the state Safety and Security Rebate of up to $400.