A significant cohort of Mermaid Beach locals have banded together to hire a private security firm to patrol the streets and check cars and homes are locked each night.

Gold Coast real estate agent Tony Velissariou says locals were fed up after 18 months of a noticeable increase in crime.

He says cars were being stolen and broken into frequently.

They’ve sourced a security company to do patrols, checking cars and doors to make sure houses and cars are secured.

“We banded together and asked all the neighbours, look majority were all for it and were also fed up,” he told Neil Breen.

He said before long, around 90 locals were on board.

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