Early voting booths have opened across the ACT and while cost of living and healthcare are top of mind for many people, others are voting based on increasing crime in their neighbourhood.
Couple Avneet Kaur and Divraj Singh said they never had reason to feel unsafe in their suburb until their parents' home was burgled two months ago.
"I always thought 'Canberra is really safe', so it was pretty shocking to hear," Mr Singh said.
"Everyone is a little shaken," Ms Kaur said.
Her sister, Japneet, lived with their parents in Denman Prospect and said they were still asleep when two people broke into their home.
The family found their drawers had been pulled out and garage door left open by burglars after checking their security cameras the next morning.
Police were called and officers collected evidence but the masked burglars have not been identified.
Ms Kaur said the territory needed more police officers, especially in the Molonglo Valley.
"There shouldn't be break-ins like this in suburbs that are well-lit," she said. "People should think twice before doing anything like that. I think there is a need for more police presence here."
She said increased policing was an important policy she would consider when voting in this election.
Would Ms Kaur vote for the Liberals who have promised 200 more police officers if elected? "Yes," she said.
The announcement followed the Australian Federal Police Association's warning that some ACT patrol zones were operating at minimum strength and officers were increasing workloads.
The police union also welcomed Labor's election commitment to building a new police station in Molonglo Valley saying it would "place valuable police resources in an expanding area".
In the neighbouring suburb of Weston, resident Felicity Royds felt safe but said if crime was a problem, other areas like housing, mental health and domestic violence services should be funded.
"If [the government] said 'we're going to invest in 200 more houses' ... affordable housing is probably a more worthwhile investment," she said.
Ms Royds said such funding could also be redirected towards crisis accommodation for women and children escaping violence, and specific services equipped to support them.
"Police are often called to attend [domestic violence incidents] but don't necessarily have the skills or training to be able to address the longer term issues," she said.
"You've got a lot more bang for your buck if you address mental health issues, from a healthcare perspective, rather than policing."
She said her values and vote didn't align with parties using "a punitive approach" to crime.
New to Canberra, Gabriel Mihaelidis said he moved from the South Coast earlier in the year and felt his suburb of Wright was one of the "safest spots" in the city.
"I see enough police in Canberra. For how new I am, I don't think we need more," he said.
However, he also said every area could benefit from a police station and "wouldn't say no" to a new one in Molonglo.
Fijian national Simione Qionibaravilala, also living in Wright with his family, said he couldn't vote in the election but was impressed with public safety since moving to the suburb.
He said his six children walked to school every day.
"I've been stopped once to be breathalysed. [Police] did a smart thing, it was a long weekend and they were at a particular picnic spot. They were doing a good job by keeping an eye out for people that were drinking and driving," he said.
Additionally, Weston resident Thierry Eeman said he had never interacted with police or heard of houses on his area being burgled.
"I'm 85 you know, so the reality of crime in Canberra escapes me," Mr Eeman said.
Newer suburbs
The new suburbs can be crime hotspots, according to the head of Neighbourhood Watch in the ACT - but he cautions against over-reacting.
Canberra is not particularly bad for crime is the broader message from the organisation's president, Laurie Blackall.
The new suburbs like the Molonglo Valley bring more crime just because there are more people, he said. He said the rise was "consistent with increasing population".
On top of that, people are relatively younger there so both partners in a couple go out to work, leaving homes empty during the day.
And construction sites attract thieves who can sell valuable stolen goods to unscrupulous tradies. "When new suburbs are being built, there are issues with thefts from building sites," he said.
The types of crime which afflicts suburban Canberra has changed, according to Mr Blackall. "When they break into houses now, a lot of burglaries are focused on car keys," he said. Laptops and other gadgets don't have the second hand value they once had.
The organisation of which he's president works closely with the police and with Crime Stoppers ACT.
"We see ourselves as being the eyes and ears out in the community," he said.
"The benefit is that we are right across the community. We are connected. It's beneficial in getting neighbours to keep an eye out for each other. We are able to help police."
