Cops arrest woman inside busy McDonald’s Adelaide CBD store

Police had to intervene after an Australian teenager confronted McDonald’s workers while helping herself to food and drinks behind the counter.

Customers and staff at an Adelaide McDonald’s were left in shock as they witnessed a woman go over the counter to hurl abuse at workers while helping herself to food and drinks.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday night at the Hindley St store in the CBD, led to the woman’s arrest and multiple criminal charges.

The two-minute video begins with the woman, 19, already on the wrong side of the counter as startled staff watch her warily, with fries scattered in the background.

“What? I’ll beat you up and I’ll leave,” she yells, pushing her face towards staff in a challenge as she holds two drinks.

“Oh what’s that, what’s in that?” she asks, then grabs a paper bag.

Not satisfied with what’s inside, she throws it away and continues to confront staff.

Customers watch from the other side of the counter, some filming her.

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The 19-year-old woman yells at staff.

She confronts staff in the back of house of the store.

Staff attempt to walk away from her as she approaches them and appear to remain calm throughout the clip.

The woman can then be seen in the kitchen of the McDonald’s restaurant.

She then heads towards the Macca’s process line where they make all the burgers and helps herself, picking up a burger box and using her bare hands to shove some chips inside.

At this point, two staff members appear to be keeping a close eye on her, with one on the phone while the other films her.

The woman opens the drinks fridge. As she peruses the shelves, she says “Ooh what do I want” before grabbing a bottle of water for herself.

She calls one of the staff members a “dumbass b***h”.

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She helps herself to some fries and a burger while staff call the police.

She chooses which drinks she wants for herself.

A customer tells her to “get out” and she says “Get the f**k out? Aww okay” but on her way out she is distracted by the McCafe display.

She picks something from behind the glass display and pops it into her mouth.

Two police officers have arrived by this point. They calmly surround her and escort her out.

One of the young McDonald’s workers begins to tear up after the ordeal is over. Some customers try to console the clearly shaken staff members.

In a statement to news.com.au, South Australian police confirmed that a 19-year-old woman was arrested after the incident which happened around 10.35pm on Thursday night.

“It will be alleged the woman damaged a door and threw a bottle of water at staff,” police said.

She was charged with disorderly behaviour, property damage and assault.

She made bail and is due to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 3, according to police.

Police arrest the woman.

A McDonald’s spokesperson told news.com.au that “Anti-social behaviour is not tolerated in our restaurants and we expect our people to be treated with respect at all times”.

The staff are assisting police with their inquiries.

The video, merely captioned with “Adelaide” followed by a face palm emoji, was posted on TikTok overnight.

It’s unclear what instigated the altercation.

Some TikTok users pointed out how a worker arrived at his shift during the incident and continued on like everything was normal.

“Lmao at the dude starting his shift like yeah, just another day at Macca’s,” wrote one person.

“Omg the poor workers, the adrenaline would be so high,” said another.

Yet another TikToker said: “I got emotional with the employee wiping her tears. It’s already so stressful working in busy season to then have to deal with that and make minimum wage. Poor things.”

“Thought this only happened in America,” someone else mused.

A staff member wipes away a tear after the incident.

Police called after woman’s rampage in Adelaide McDonald’s