CCTV captures the moment youths jump on cars at Gawler dealership during overnight crime spree

A group of children, one as young as 11, has been arrested – then granted bail – after a wild crime spree north of Adelaide overnight. Watch the CCTV.

A girl aged just 11 is one of a gang of young offenders arrested and charged after CCTV captured them jumping on cars at a Gawler dealership before breaking into a series of businesses.

Just after 11.30pm on Sunday, police were called to a Noodle Box restaurant on Adelaide Rd, Gawler, after locals reported seeing several youths smash a window before fleeing on foot.

At 12.30am, the same group of teenagers allegedly smashed into Heritage Cafe Gawler, which is annexed to Evanston Railway Station, and stole sweets, chip packets and soft drinks.

CCTV also captured the group of youths jumping and kicking cars at a local car dealership before laughing and running away.

At least three other businesses within a 3km radius were targeted in the crime spree, including a McDonald’s also on Adelaide Rd, as well as a Steinborner Holden car dealership, where a dozen cars were damaged, and a Shell Coles Express on Murray St.

More than $6000 worth of electronics were also stolen from a caravan.

Police said the youths returned to the railway station around 3.30am where officers apprehended them.

An 11-year-old girl is among six youths arrested over a wild crime spree in Gawler. Details in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGh39Y#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/0VEYICqOiC

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) January 29, 2024

Police arrested a 16-year-old girl from Gawler East, an 11-year-old-girl from Smithfield, a 15-year-old boy from Wynn Vale, a 14-year-old boy from Paralowie, a 16-year-old boy from Blakeview, and a 14-year-old boy from Parafield Gardens.

They have been charged with a number of offences including serious criminal trespass, property damage, theft, unlawful possession and carrying an offensive weapon.

They have been bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Youth Court on March 8.

An employee at the car dealership, who did not wish to be named, told The Advertiser that cars were left vandalised with dents and broken glass.

It is understood that the assailants tried to force entry into the McDonald’s and Shell, but that employees locked the entrance doors on both instances.

Heritage Cafe Gawler owner Marie-Anne San Gabriel expected to be making coffee for her customers around 9am on Monday, but instead arrived to find crime scene investigators and broken glass.

Gawler cafe owner Marie-Anne San Gabriel cleaning up broken glass. Picture: George Yankovich

Instead of making coffee for customers this morning, she was busy cleaning up from the break-in. Picture: George Yankovich

She said while this was the first break-in during her three years running the cafe, shoplifting was not uncommon and was usually carried out by younger offenders.

“They just take it and run, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Ms San Gabriel said.

It appeared the thieves gained entry by breaking a window and unlocking a security latch from the inside, Ms San Gabriel said.

While she expected to re-open on Tuesday, she wanted more police and security patrols on the train line.

“11 years old, I just can’t believe it – they’re so young,” she said.

“Why are they not in school? Just leave and find something better to do, don’t make trouble for us.”

Tanya Van Embden co-owns Battery World on Adelaide Rd with her husband, where their $45,000 caravan was temporarily being stored away from their other business, also on the same street.

Tanya van Embden in front of their caravan that was broken into. Picture: George Yankovich

“We were helping (Noodle Box) with security footage and my husband just went, ‘Someone go check the caravan’,” Mrs Van Embden said.

“They’ve just stripped it – lights, fans, TV, batteries, inverters, all gone.

“I had a couple who were interested in purchasing it and now that’s probably fallen through or will be greatly delayed.”

Having lived in the area since early childhood, Ms Van Embden said crime, particularly by young offenders, has “definitely gotten worse over the last six or seven years”.

She blames poor parenting and pervasive substance abuse, but also believes that offenders are getting off with “a slap on the wrist”.

“You see it on the news all the time – kid’s done this, out on bail, out on bail, and they’re just going to go and do it again,” she said.

“A couple of years ago we had a girl in an Oodie jump the fence and try to steal a toy car from our shop, but she got stuck on the fence … The cops rocked up and they knew exactly who she was.

“We work hard for our money, to pay our mortgage and send our children to school, and these kids just don’t think about what they’re doing to other people.”

Gawler mayor Karen Redman said she trusted SA Police would “effectively address and investigate these occurrences”.

“In response to the recent spate of youth-related crime, it is important to emphasise that such incidents are often isolated and do not reflect the behaviour of many young individuals in our community,” Ms Redman said.

Local state member for Light, Tony Piccolo, has been contacted for comment.

Anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.