Franklin Central Apartments residents hit hard by rising crime in CBD

Residents of an Adelaide CBD apartment building have been coward punched and broken into as anti-social behaviour soars in the area.

A long-term resident of the Franklin Central apartment building told The Advertiser that anti-social behaviour in the area had been on the rise since 2020. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Residents of Franklin Apartments in the Adelaide CBD have been coward hit, been broken into and their belongings stolen as anti-social behaviour soars in the area.

Long-term residents Carmel and Dennis Davies, both 74, had security cameras installed after Mr Davies was coward-punched by a stranger at their door several years ago.

“We’ve got cameras so we can see who’s there because at one stage my husband just opened the door and he was king hit and the police recommended we get them,” Mrs Davies said.

Mrs Davies said she also had her handbag stolen from their home after a stranger approached the couple at their door.

“We were talking to one guy who asked Dennis for a cigarette and he ran in and my handbag was sitting there with my purse and all my money was gone in a flash,” she said.

The Davies have also caught people urinating and attempting to steal plants outside their home in recent months.

“You can see it in the mornings when you go for a walk down. You can smell it or it’s been done in the corner,” Mrs Davies said

Another long-term resident, who wants to remain anonymous, told The Advertiser anti-social behaviour in the area had been on the rise since 2020.

“I’ve been living here since 2013 and it really is the past two or three years that anti-social behaviour has gone up a notch,” they said.

“There’s been regular, multiple attempted break-ins, vandalism, graffiti, public urination, assaults, which aren’t uncommon.”

In February this year, the resident said they had to step in during an altercation between a man and woman on the street.

“I actually had to save a woman. I heard screaming at about two in the morning and some guy was assaulting a woman at the end of my street. So I had to get him away and pull her out of that situation,” they said.

The resident also showed The Advertiser a list of more than 25 incidents of vandalism and violence they’d witnessed and compiled.

The Franklin Central apartment building on the corner of Franklin and Bentham streets in the CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“I’m an Army vet, so I feel a certain responsibility to keep watch and help out whenever I can, but I’m not a superhero,” they said.

The list details incidents dating back to April 2022, including one in which an intoxicated 16-year-old threatened to bash them after being denied cigarettes.

Other incidents on the list include attempted break ins, property damage and threats of violence towards residents.

Residents believe installing more security cameras and defence systems along with an increased police presence will help deter crime as “people are less likely to act out if they think they’re being watched”.

An SA Police spokesman said targeting anti-social and criminal behaviour in the CBD was a high priority.

“South Australia Police have a current operation dedicated to anti-social and criminal behaviour in the CBD, with a focus on the entertainment precinct,” the spokesman said.

“Operation Paragon draws a highly visible police presence into the CBD through mobile and foot patrols and is supplemented by resources from multiple areas across SAPOL.”

Police encourage the timely reporting of anti-social behaviour via 131 444 or triple-0 for emergencies.