Marcellina pizza shop owner Michael Gerges decides to sell up over second robbery by youths
For five years, pizza franchisee Michael Gerges has been robbed by youths in the northern suburbs. He’s had enough.
North & North East
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A pizza shop owner besieged by youth crime for five years is walking away from his northern suburbs business.
Marcellina Pizza franchisee Michael Gerges was robbed at the weekend by two youths who threw rocks through the door at the back of his shop on Curtis Rd, Munno Para.
It was the second time his business has been broken into. The last time was two years ago, when four youths targeted him and a nearby Chinese takeaway.
Mr Gerges and two staff found one of the youths at a service station and detained him but police decided to let him go because of his age.
Mr Gerges said the nearby Playford Town Centre was infested by juvenile offenders.
“I’ve had enough, it has just been one thing after another,” he said. “It (crime) happens all the time. This place needs more attention from police.”
Mr Gerges said he received a call from his security company at 2am on Sunday saying there had been a break-in and that police had been alerted.
He drove from Paradise to find a hole in his back door and was examining the damage when police arrived.
“They said they were from Golden Grove and were called because the Elizabeth patrols were busy,” he said. “It took them 45 minutes to get here. It’s just not good enough.”
Mr Gerges said he showed the police officers footage of the youths from his CCTV cameras but they would not go looking for them because they did not know the area.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “They left and so I went looking for them (the youths). One was hiding up the road, so I called the police again but by the time they got here he had run off.”
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Mr Gerges said police had attended when youths had caused problems at his business, including stealing items, refusing to pay for food they had ordered or throwing objects at his front window and inside walls.
“Everytime they haven’t been able to do anything because they are too young,” he said. “Lots of other people around here have had the same problem.”
Mr Gerges said he had witnessed brawls behind his shop while a nearby skate park attracted youths who drank alcohol and consumed drugs.
“I’ve done my best to make it work, I really have but I just can’t handle it any more. It is time to go, ” he said.