Rundle Mall retailers reveal the brazen nature of thieves

Rundle Mall retailers have weighed in on the city’s growing shoplifting problem — revealing the lengths they’ve had to take to protect themselves.

The brazen and shameless nature of theft on Rundle Mall has forced a shoe shop owner to spend almost $5000 on security measures.

Store manager at Beaudelle Shoe Repairs Jason – who asked for his surname to be private – has said his shop has suffered from endless shoplifting attacks in the last two years.

“There’s always been an element of shoplifting to the CBD but I think in the last 24 months there’s been an alarming rise of crime,” he said.

“And it’s everyone that’s doing it, you can’t pinpoint it to a singular group because I’ve seen groups of middle-aged woman enter the store with an organised intent of stealing and I’ve seen young kids just grabbing things too.

“But it’s shocking how bold the thieves are, they absolutely have no shame and often do things openly because they feel like they can’t be punished – and they’re right – there’s too many of them.”

Jason of Beaudelle Shoe Repairs on the recent increase in city theft. Picture: Dean Martin

Jason recalled an incident in which several women walked into the store and upon exiting took several leather handbags displayed in the front of the shop – he lost about $1000.

But in response, Jason has decided to spend $5000 to upgrade the video surveillance in store, put security cables through the bags, and install alarms at the doors.

Meanwhile, clothing store employee Isla Vozzo, 19, transferred to the South Australian store from Western Australia about a month ago and she was surprised to see the rate of local theft.

“In WA in the same store we would see the occasional stealing but since moving to SA, the theft here is just unhinged,” she said.

“I was so surprised to see that everyone here steals, like our regular looking older customers and the school kids that look like they would be abiding citizens.

Isla Vozzo, who works at a retail store in Rundle Mall, said she’s been shocked by the SA thieves since moving here. Picture Dean Martin

“We also get those who are off their face with drugs or under the influence of alcohol and they are the most violent ones, they take a lot and we report them to police.”

Ms Vozzo said she felt glad over the increased police patrols which will regularly roam the Rundle Mall strip.

However, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) trade union secretary Josh Peak told The Advertiser he feels like a lot more needs to be done to protect retailers.

Traders comment on the increased security in Rundle Mall, since a recent increase in the amount of crime and theft. 15 March 2024. Picture Dean Martin

“What we know is that retail theft broadly is up by 30 per cent in the last 12 months across the state and not a week goes by when we don’t hear about a violent instance in the CBD,” Mr Peak said.

“And as retail theft increases, so does abuse and assault towards the workers which is unfair when you consider how a lot of retailers are young people in their first job – they shouldn’t be going to work scared.

“We are happy to see an increased police and security presence in place because we know it will make a difference.”

Meanwhile, Kmart employee Chloe said her main concerns are the laws which prevent her from stopping the daily theft workers witness.

“Once people realise we can’t physically stop anyone from stealing, people use that to their advantage,” she said.

“People come into the store and take items off mannequins or they take the hanger with clothes – sometimes they even wave the things in front of us – and then they walk off.

“We see the hangers on the floor outside when we leave work.”

Chloe said she and other employees believe the thieves might become physically aggressive or verbally abusive if called out for their actions.

Mr Peak said the SDA and other relevant authorities are planning a roundtable to discuss shop theft mitigation strategies in early May.