SA Police arrest six kids following alleged shopping centre threat

Police officers have arrested six teens for allegedly threatening a man outside a shopping centre, just two days after a major Westfield Marion went into lockdown in an unrelated event.

Police have arrested six youths for allegedly threatening a man outside an Adelaide shopping centre, just two days after the Westfield Marion centre went into lockdown following an unrelated alleged scuffle between youths.

The incident happened about 1.30pm on Tuesday, with the police called to the Arndale centre, about 10km northwest of the CBD, following reports a group of youths threatened a man.

“Two of the youths were allegedly carrying knives at the time,” SA Police said on Tuesday afternoon.

“The group quickly dispersed but were located by Western District patrols on Humphries Terrace. Police have recovered the knives involved.

“Six youths have been arrested and are subsequently being interviewed by police and are expected to be charged with aggravated affray.

“One of the youths also allegedly threw a rock, hitting a person in the chin, and causing a minor injury.”

The police allege two of the youths were carrying knives in the incident at the Arndale shopping centre. Picture: Supplied

Four of the boys are 14-years-old, while one is 16 and the other is 13, police said.

The incident comes just two days after Sunday’s chaos at Westfield Marion, in which an unrelated alleged scuffle between youngsters in the food court over a $285 jumper sparked a lockdown and massive police response.

Alarms blared throughout the centre and major storefronts locked their doors to keep shoppers safe.

Heavily armed specialist tactical officers stormed the centre and swept through it across the afternoon to find the alleged offenders, with the police announcing arrests on Monday morning.

Two of the three boys, aged 15 and 16, appeared at Adelaide Youth Court in the morning, charged with affray, theft using force and assault offences

A third boy appeared at court in the afternoon, charged with assault, affray and theft using force.

Police attend the Westfield Shopping Centre in Marion on Sunday. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

In documents seen by NewsWire, prosecutors allege two of the boys tried to steal a jumper valued at $285.

“On the 23rd day of June 2024 at Oaklands Park in the said State, (the teens) committed robbery by using force, or threatening to use force … in order to commit theft by taking a jumper of the value of $285 … and the force was used, or the threat was made, at the time of, or immediately before or after, the theft,” the document states.

It is understood the jumper was a Track Star hoodie.

The bail applications for all three teens were adjourned for court-ordered reports.

The teens were remanded in custody and will appear again in court on July 4.