Shots fired at business in Adelaide’s North Plympton that was raided in 2024

Police are hunting a shooter after several shots peppered a small suburban barber shop, terrifying local residents. It’s the same business that was raided by the AFP last year.

A barber shop in Adelaide’s western suburbs has been the target of a drive-by shooting. Picture: Sam Lowe

A business in Adelaide’s western suburbs has been the target of a drive-by shooting with police revealing several shots were fired at the building on Thursday night.

Police were called to the barber shop on Hawson Ave after reports of the gunshots just before 9.30pm.

It is understood at least five rounds had been fired into the door.

Police tape cordoned off the business while award-winning Banana Boogie Bakery continued to sell coffees. Picture: Sam Lowe

KJ Barbers had four bullet holes through the glass of its front door. Picture: Sam Lowe

According to police, no one was inside the building at the time and there were no reports of injuries.

Crime scene investigators have flocked to the scene to investigate.

Situated in a block of four other businesses, KJ Barbers had four bullet holes through the glass of its front door.

Police tape cordoned off the business while award-winning Banana Boogie Bakery continued to sell coffees and morning pastries on the corner of the block of shops.

Several shots were fired at the building on Thursday night. Picture: Sam Lowe

Ela Grabowsky, who operates the European Grocery next door, said it was not good for businesses or the local community to come out and see bullet holes through shops in the area. “What can you say, nobody likes things happening like this around your area,” she said.

Nearby neighbour and mother, Jess, said she heard about five or six shots and a vehicle roar off down the street.

“The consistency, just the bang, bang, bang, bang made me think that that was gunshots,” she said

“My kid’s bedroom is right at the front of the house, I was really scared. You don’t know what’s happening.

“I don’t want him to get caught up in the action of it.“

Residents said they heard a series of bangs. Picture: Sam Lowe

Another neighbour, who asked for their name to be withheld, said the business had been visited by police in recent times.

KJ Barbers was raided by the AFP as part of its first Operation Kraken raid in South Australia last September, having infiltrated the underworld encrypted app ‘Ghost’.

The app had been operating for nine years and was used by outlaw motorcycle gangs including the Hells Angels, Mongols, Comancheros and Finks as well as Middle Eastern organised crime gangs, Italian organised crime syndicates and Korean organised crime.

Sources told The Advertiser the barber shop was searched from top to bottom for several hours. Officers covered CCTV cameras and ripped out electrical wires.It is understood the AFP seized three mobile devices.

Meanwhile, across town another business has been targeted by suspicious behaviour, this time a fire, in an unrelated incident.

Just after 5.30am on Friday morning, police and MFS were called to Glynburn Rd after reports of a fire at a Hectorville tobacco shop.

When MFS arrived, the suspicious blaze had been extinguished with minor damage caused to the front of Puff Station.

A nearby business owner told The Advertiser how he stopped it from going up in flames after a molotov cocktail was thrown at the window.

Amer, owner of Glynde Garage, pulled out a fire extinguisher and put the blaze out early on Friday morning.

Amer did not wish to provide a comment.

Puff Station’s blackened windows and doorstop bore the brunt of the damage.

Part landowner of the block of shops that Puff Station is situated in, Peter Munari, 63, said it was “terrible stuff” but that “anything to do with tobacco these days, it’s a given”.

“I wish it wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

“We always thought something like this could happen, but we thought, you know, give it a go we see what happens. Luckily, it didn’t spread.”

Nearby shop owner Romeo Micarone “thankful” the fire was stopped when it was.

“It’s pretty devastating stuff really,” he said.

“My wife was getting the call as she was driving to work this morning.

“These are the sort of things that are starting to happen nowadays.”

Crime scene investigators will examine scene on Friday morning.

Police say investigations are in the early stages and they will establish if there is any links to Operation Eclipse.

They are appealing for anyone with information about the shooting or the fire, or any suspicious vehicles or activity in the area, to come forward.

You can report it anonymously to police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.