Roller shutters in Willagee

The 36 burglaries recorded in Willagee in 2025 work out at 6.6 per 1,000 residents. Across metropolitan Perth the rate was 4.0, so Willagee sits above the metro figure. As everywhere, the suburb count covers homes and businesses together.

The five year trend is little changed: 42 in 2021, 43 in 2024 and 36 in 2025. Over a longer span the number has fallen a long way, from 87 in 2017. Motor vehicle thefts were 14 in 2021 and 12 in 2025.

A rate above the metro figure is a fair reason to look at the openings of your own house. A roller shutter is a physical barrier on windows and doors, and it makes forced entry slower and noisier.

Landgate records that the area was developed in the early 1950s, and the name was approved in 1954. Separate houses make up 79.4% of occupied dwellings, slightly above the Greater Perth figure of 77.8%, with semi-detached homes, terraces and townhouses at 18.6%. Flats are rare, at 1.9%.

For a house, start with residential roller shutters on bedrooms, then the living areas and sliding doors. Owners of semi-detached homes and townhouses should check whether they are in a strata scheme, because the default by-laws require the strata company's written consent for anything visible from outside the lot that is not in keeping with the rest of the building.

For the back yard, our outdoor blinds include Ziptrak, Slidetrack, cafe and motorised blinds. In Hamilton Hill, 4.4 km away, we fitted a manual Ziptrak blind with a white frame and 99% Ebony mesh.

A single house is exempt from development approval under state planning rules when the R-Codes apply, the work meets their deemed-to-comply provisions and the home is not heritage protected. Willagee is in the City of Melville, whose LPP 1.17 takes the same position for residential development. The City requires approval for all development on properties on its local heritage list.

Two smaller points can come up. Where external blinds or shutters are used as privacy screening under the R-Codes, the deemed-to-comply standard asks for screens at least 1.6m high, at least 75 per cent obscure and permanently fixed. And the City's exemptions page says a pergola or shade sail in a residential zone needs no approval unless it is in a heritage property or area. That page does not mention blinds, so ask the City if blinds are part of a larger alfresco job.

Seniors Card holders can claim up to $400 per household on security window screens or window shutters through the WA Safety and Security Rebate.