Neighbours fighting to protect their homes from intruders say someone will have to die in order for things to change.
The vigilante group in Cranbourne, south east Melbourne, are arming themselves and taking the law into their own hands to protect their properties and belongings.
Police have warned them to stop saying they are at risk of committing a criminal offence by stockpiling weapons and targeting intruders themselves.
The vigilante group in Cranbourne, south east Melbourne, are arming themselves and taking the law into their own hands
The group calling themselves No Fear featured on Monday night’s A Current Affair.
One of the members, who calls himself Joe, said he was willing to hurt someone revealing he had already shot at two people encroaching on his property.
‘Until someone dies things aren’t going to change,’he said. ‘I don’t want to maim somebody but I have to because they’re not going to learn any other way.
‘When we catch them we are going to deal with them ourselves because it’s not going to stop until someone gets seriously hurt.
‘If it means I have to sit in a jail cell then so be it.’
It is claimed six properties have been burgled in the last fortnight.
One resident has even started training pitbull terriers as attack dogs.
Another says they are doing it because they do not want someone coming in and taking things they have worked hard to provide their family with.
But the police are warning people not to take the law into their own hands.
One resident, James, says he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his home and belongings from being stolen
Joe says he believes someone will have to die in order for things to change and uses mercury and battery acid on his arrow tips
Joe says he has used mercury and battery acid on his arrow tips to cause maximum pain to intruders.
They have knuckledusters, nail guns, bats and homemade machine guns.
A statement from Victoria Police said: ‘We strongly discourage anyone from partaking in behaviour which can place themselves or others at risk of harm if they attempt to confront an offender.
‘If you are witness to or the victim of a crime, call Triple Zero first and foremost to request police assistance.
‘Victoria Police is well-equipped, trained and resourced to respond to safety concerns in the community.
The group patrol the streets and trees around their homes after a spate of break ins and burglaries in recent weeks
Former detective Charlie Bezzina (pictured) says the vigilantes cannot take the law into their own hands
‘Police take weapon offences seriously and anyone found to be illegally possessing or using dangerous items including weapons and firearms can expect to be charged.’
Former detective Charlie Bezzina told the Channel 9 show: ‘The thing with vigilantes is they act first and ask questions later.
‘He is putting themselves into the same category as the same people they are supposedly trying to assault.
‘It’s a criminal offence. You cannot take the law into your own hands. You can’t do it frustrations or not.’