Victim of youth crime Jamie Bennie joins opposition leader’s calls for more cops ahead of state budget

A young southern suburbs couple say they’re scared to stay in their own home after being victims of a gang of teenagers on a crime spree.

Jamie Bennie outside his home in Sturt. He is calling on the government to have new incentives for police recruits in the budget. Picture: Dean Martin.

A young southern suburbs couple expecting their first child say they’re scared to stay in their own home after their house was broken into and their car was stolen by a gang of teenagers on a crime spree.

Speaking alongside opposition leader David Speirs on Sunday afternoon, Jamie Bennie said he and his partner were at home asleep when they woke to the scuffle of people going through their belongings in their home last month.

“(My partner) heard some rustling about and opened the door and ran down. The doors were wide open and the car was gone. It was all very quick and over in a flash but the ramifications after it haven’t been very nice,” Mr Bennie said.

“They were caught after they struck a woman in Glenelg with my car. Five youths ran from the car at Marion and they were all caught.

“We called the police, and they were there quite quickly.

“The crime scene investigators came but said there was no sign of forced entry, but there was no other look around the house to see.

Jamie Bennie said he and his partner were at home asleep when they woke to the sound of people in their home. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Bennie’s home was broken into by a group of youths. Picture: Supplied

The youths were driving Mr Bennie’s car when they struck a woman in Glenelg and were caught by police. Picture: Supplied

“We’d just paid off the finance on the car, which was used in a hit and run. I’ve had to pay thousands of dollars in excess payments, and that’s not ideal especially before welcoming my son.”

Mr Bennie, of Sturt, echoed Mr Speirs’ plea for the government to provide more incentives to police officers to get more cops on the street.

“We have made it very clear over the last few weeks that we want to see more spending with regard to our police,” Mr Speirs said.

“We are about 200 officers down from where we need to be in this state.

“The government’s upcoming budget needs to include a range of incentives for our police force – better paying conditions, HECS fees being paid off.

“There is rampant crime on the streets at the moment – particularly youth crime – and there just doesn’t seem to be the deterrents in place.”

Mr Bennie said he’d never had any problems with the police so far, but feels like “a more thorough investigation should have been done” in his case.

“It was kind of led to believe we had left the door open, but that wasn’t the case,” he said.

Five boys aged 13 and 15 have been arrested after the police helicopter tracked them in stolen cars from Glenelg to Marion. The youths have been denied bail and will spend the weekend behind bars. Details in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/AlI8m3ch66

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) May 11, 2024

“I feel more aware of my surroundings now. My partner feels unsafe and she doesn’t want to live there anymore so we will be looking to move on.

“(The investigation) was sub-par.

“There has to be something to deter these kids, and give them a better life.

“It would help to get more police out on the beat.”

The Advertiser recently revealed more cops would be returning to the street as part of an almost $40m law and order spend in this year’s state budget.

The state government’s $36.8m investment to soften the blow of crippling police attrition and ongoing recruitment challenges will focus on improving SA Police’s technological capabilities to free up more frontline officers and operational staff.

Over the next four years, $19m will be spent on developing and implementing SA Police’s digital police station, which will allow South Australians to make non-urgent reports and requests online.