Operation Meld: SA Police say heightened tensions between youth gangs causing spike in crime

SA Police has revealed its special gangs task force has made a startling number of arrests as their criminal activity reaches a new level. See the list.

Operation Meld has made at least 10 arrests in the space of a week. Picture: Artwork

Two rival youth gangs have entered a period “in time when conflict is heightened” causing an increased level of offending, one of the state’s top cop says.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval said on Wednesday that Operation Meld – which tackles criminal offending by groups of youths – had successfully arrested at least 10 people within the span of a week.

All the arrested are men, aged between 15 and 26, charged with various offences including carrying offensive weapons, assault cause harm, property damage, shop theft and making off without payment, as well as breach of bail.

It will be alleged the arrested men are linked to gangs that have been previously identified by Operation Meld, which includes the northern groups known as the Killa Block Squad (KBS) or 051.

LIST OF OPERATION MELD ARRESTS:

Male, 15: Robbery, theft, breach of bail

Male, 16: Shop theft

Male, 16: Shop theft

Male, 17: Carrying offensive weapon, breaching bail conditions

Male, 17: Breaching bail conditions

Male, 17: Assault cause harm

Male, 17: Carrying an article of disguise

Man, 18: Shop theft, carrying an article of disguise

Man, 21: Disorderly behaviour, carry offensive weapon, shop theft, making off without payment, assault, and property damage

Man, 26: Assault cause harm

Operation Meld investigators have also revealed that they have arrested a teen following break-ins at the end of last month in the Craigmore and Elizabeth Downs area.

Police believe that these incidents are all linked.

A 17-year-old boy from Parafield Gardens was charged with being unlawfully on premises and two counts of aggravated serious criminal trespass.

He was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Youth Court on 22 November.

Investigations are continuing to identify further offenders involved.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval speaks during a press conference at Adelaide Police Headquarters. The press conference released details about operation Meld. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Mr Duval said the spike in crime could be attributed to the renewed conflict between gangs.

“We have spoken previously about our investigations involving the specifics of Operations Meld and that’s been occurring now for a number of years,” he said.

“There are periods in time when conflict is heightened … it would appear at the moment that we have a rise in that type of offending between these groups.

Mr Duval said it was difficult to identify the motivation of the gang wars but authorities would “continue to put considerable pressure on these gang members and their associates to disrupt their criminal activity”.

This comes after SA Police revealed Operation Meld officers were investigating the recent spate of home invasions across the state, which were typically perpetrated by groups of machete-wielding men.

The most recent home invasion occurred on Wednesday at Gulfview Heights which saw four men break into the home. Since then, one alleged offender has been apprehended by police.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on Wednesday in relation to the invasion and faced the Adelaide Youth Court on Thursday morning.

The Pennington youth did not make an application for bail and was remanded in custody to face court again in November.

The boy is yet to enter pleas to two counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, aggravated serious criminal trespass, aggravated causing serious harm with intent and three counts of failing to answer questions relating to the identity of the driver of a vehicle.

Mr Duval said the “propensity” for weapons in these types of home invasions was “very concerning” and it was of the utmost importance that those people were held accountable for their actions.

He added that it was “unclear” where young people were getting edged weapons from.

In an incident unrelated to Operation Meld, the Northern District CIB arrested a man alleged to be involved in a break in at Parafield Gardens on Tuesday night.

It is understood a group of armed men assaulted a 30-year-old man with edged weapons, leaving their victim with lacerations on his body. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

On Thursday, Northern District CIB arrested a 63-year-old man from Parafield Gardens and charged him with aggravated serious criminal trespass, aggravated cause serious harm and firearms offences.

He has been refused bail and is expected to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court.

The other offenders are still at large.

Originally published as Operation Meld: SA Police say heightened tensions between youth gangs causing spike in crime