Rundle Mall Rebel worker allegedly assaulted, knocked out by 15yo girl shoplifter

A worker at the Rebel sport store in Rundle Mall has been rushed to hospital and a 15-year-old girl arrested after an alleged assault.

Rebel sport store in Rundle Mall was forced to close on Monday after a worker was knocked out, allegedly by a 15-year-old girl caught shoplifting.

The female employee was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and the shop was shut, missing out on public holiday takings.

The alleged assailant was found nearby with goods that police suspect were stolen.

A Rebel employee, who requested to remain anonymous, said two off-duty nurses nearby rushed to assist the woman victim in the immediate aftermath.

“I hope some good comes from this attack,” they said.

“Hopefully this highlights the need for heightened security. We have some but it’s not enough.”

A worker at Rebel sport store in Rundle Mall was knocked out and rushed to hospital on Monday. Picture: Charlie Dadds

Rebel store on Rundle Mall. Picture: Agnes Gichuhi

Signs at the store advised shoppers to head to the nearby Rebel store in Grenfell Street.

SA Police released a statement saying about 11.45am on Monday, patrols were called to a Rundle Mall store after a staff member was allegedly assaulted by a teenager who was not known to her.

“Police searched the area locating the suspect, a 15-year-old Hackham West girl, on nearby Grenfell Street,” the statement said.

“In her possession police allegedly located cosmetics and jewellery that is suspected of having been stolen.

“She was arrested and has been charged with aggravated assault cause harm and unlawful possession.”

The girl was refused bail and will appear in the Adelaide Youth Court on Tuesday.

In April last year, in an unrelated incident, a security guard was stabbed while confronting a gang and alleged teen shoplifters in one of the city’s most popular shopping centres during the dinner rush.

The stabbing emerged days after The Advertiser revealed how crime in the CBD and North Adelaide had more than doubled in a decade, while violent attacks had surged more than 350 per cent in six years.

Problem areas include parts of King William and Hindley streets, Rundle Mall and North Terrace, especially around the railway station or Parliament House – where staff were warned not to walk alone at night.

However, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens urged shop owners to have “perspective” and admitted officers don’t go to every call-out.

In July, Attorney-General Kyam Maher granted new powers to SA Police, meaning troublemakers faced bans from Adelaide’s most popular areas and random police searches to combat the growing crime wave.

A spokesperson Rebel said the business was “shocked and appalled” by the incident.

“As you would expect, we are treating this matter seriously and will continue to prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of our team members and customers,” they said.