South Australian Police have ramped up their presence in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall following a recent spike in crime.
The move comes in response to several violent incidents, including a 15-year-old girl charged with aggravated assault after allegedly attacking an employee at a sports store.
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Police suspect that the cosmetics and jewellery allegedly found with her were stolen.
SA Police said extra uniformed officers supported by the specialist Security Response Section, mounted police and dog operations unit would now patrol the area.
On Thursday morning, police responded to reports of another theft incident involving clothing items.
A 45-year-old man was arrested and charged with theft, though these incidents are believed to be unrelated.
Assistant Police Commissioner Scott Duval said the increased patrols aim to provide a visible and responsive presence.
“We are seeing an increase in shop theft in Rundle Mall, and it was an opportune time for us to increase those police resources and provide that high level of community reassurance and community safety,” Commissioner Duval said.
This morning, police met with retailers in Rundle Mall as part of their regular Business Watch meeting.
“We are actively engaged with the retailers, we work very closely with them, we offer them crime prevention advice and … (a) policing service that responds very quickly to those people that are committing shop theft within their stores.”
He assured the public that resources would be allocated appropriately.
The increased police resources in Rundle Mall are part of Operation Measure, aimed at preventing violent shop theft across the metropolitan area.
“It’s not a trial, it’s part of our normal prioritisation of resourcing so we’ll keep this resourcing so long as it’s necessary.”
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