Young crooks are trying to outsmart suburban security firms hired to keep communities safe by scoping out streets with drones, one private security firm says.

There’s been an increase in demand for private security firms, with locals increasingly fearful of being targeted by bold young offenders.

They’re hiring security guards to watch their homes, streets and suburbs every night just to keep them away.

Security firm 24/7 Group’s business development manager Damien said they specialise in urban security services, and their biggest issue in the suburbs is young offenders breaking into houses to steal car keys and cars.

“We get groups of 4 or 5 juveniles storm into a street, they will grab a car and off they go,” he told Neil Breen.

Security officers even install security cameras to catch the bold young crooks.

“They are getting a little bit high-tech on us now, they are starting to use drones, they will actually survey the area first before they come in … and we are on the look out for them every night now.”

He said they’ve heard of two home invasions in the same area in the past 3 weeks.

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