Roller shutters for Ocean Reef homes

Police recorded 11 burglaries in Ocean Reef in 2025. Measured against the 8,125 people counted at the 2021 Census, that is 1.4 per 1,000 residents, roughly a third of the metropolitan rate of 4.0. In 2021 the count was 20.

With an average of 15 a year between 2021 and 2025, the numbers are too small to read a trend; one or two incidents either way shift the total noticeably. The clearer message is the rate, which sits well under the metro level.

A roller shutter does one job well on that front. Once lowered it forms a physical barrier on windows and doors, so forcing entry through it is slower and noisier.

The City of Joondalup's Local Heritage Survey 2024 records that from the late 1960s many new suburbs were established, Ocean Reef among them. The housing is overwhelmingly detached. Separate houses made up 95.8% of occupied dwellings in 2021, semi-detached and townhouses 4.0%. Ownership is high: 86.2% of homes were owned, with 41.4% owned outright.

On these houses, start with residential roller shutters for bedrooms and the windows that face the street, then the larger glass doors onto the outdoor areas. Townhouse owners in a strata scheme need the strata company's written consent for anything visible from outside the lot that does not match the rest of the building.

For a patio or alfresco exposed to the sea breeze, look at Ziptrak, Slidetrack or cafe blinds. Motorised outdoor blinds can be paired with sun and wind sensors that automatically adjust to changing weather conditions.

Ocean Reef is in the City of Joondalup. For a single house, the state planning regulations treat shutters as alterations that are exempt from development approval when three things are true: the R-Codes apply to the works, the works comply with the deemed-to-comply provisions, and the house is not in a heritage-protected place.

The City notes that being on its Heritage List has implications for owners who propose to alter or develop, because development approval is required. If your home is listed, check with the City before you order.

With an above average share of residents aged 65 and over, the WA Seniors Card Safety and Security Rebate is worth a look. Security window screens or window shutters are an eligible item, with a minimum purchase of $100 and a rebate of up to $400. Each household can claim once for the life of the scheme.