Pain for traders as spate of break-ins forces doors shut in Adelaide’s inner-south

A spate of break-ins across Adelaide has forced small businesses to shut as owners, including MasterChef Australia contestant Rose Adam, start to pick up the pieces.

The Middle Store, a family-run cafe in Melrose Park headed by 2015 MasterChef Australia contestant Rose Adam, was just one of many shops targeted as workers discovered the mess on Tuesday morning.

A spate of break-ins across Adelaide has caused pain for traders and workers with the doors forced shut as small business owners pick up the pieces.

The Middle Store, a family-run cafe in Melrose Park headed by 2015 MasterChef Australia contestant Rose Adam, was just one of many shops targeted as workers discovered the mess on Tuesday morning.

Ms Adam told The Advertiser up to seven shops, including a barber, a chicken shop and a Chinese cuisine shop were hit on Winston Ave alone.

Former MasterChef Contestant Rose Adam at her shop The Middle Store. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Ms Adam said her business was forced to close while damage to the shop front door was fixed and the business worked to find a point-of-sale solution after the register was stolen.

“They managed to jam the front door open, they took our till with our day’s taking and our float – they didn’t take much … but we’ve lost a day trade and (our team) have lost a day’s pay,” she said.

“It’s a headache now, we have to go through changing the front door, buying a new till, getting insurance in … it’s going to be a hectic day.

The Middle Store, a family-run cafe in Melrose Park headed by 2015 MasterChef Australia contestant Rose Adam was just one of many shops targeted as workers discovered the mess on Tuesday morning.

SA Police confirmed officers were investigating the break-ins of a group of shops at Daws Park and Melrose Park overnight.

Just after 3.30am on Tuesday, police received a report of a group breaking into a takeaway shop on Winston Ave, police said.

Patrols discovered the shop had been broken into together with five nearby businesses, with the thieves targeting the tills.

Crime scene investigators examined the scenes this morning and the investigations are continuing.

The southern suburbs break-ins come as a man was arrested after he was caught allegedly breaking into a business in the CBD on Monday night.

Just after 10.30pm, police received a report of a man smashing the window to a restaurant on Pulteney St.

Police arrived and found a man inside the premises, where he was arrested.

Police allege the suspect is believed responsible for further break-ins to businesses in the city in recent days on Union St, Twin St, Rundle St and East Tce.

The 19-year-old man from Adelaide has been charged with serious criminal trespass and unlawful possession.

He is expected to face further charges relating to the earlier break-ins, was refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Police said the CBD break-in matter were not linked to the Daws Park and Melrose Park investigations.

Originally published as Pain for traders as spate of break-ins forces doors shut in Adelaide’s inner-south