Following recent events, South Australia Police are increasing patrols of the Rundle Mall area to provide a highly visible and responsive presence.
This will provide a level of community reassurance and deterrence to would-be shop theft offenders. This highly visible response will include officers from Eastern District who will also be supported from other areas within SAPOL such as the Security Response Section, Mounted Operations Unit and Dog Operations Unit plus others.
Whilst none of these recent incidents are related, it is however acknowledged that they cause community concern, particularly where violence is used.
Police investigations continue into the latest incident on 13 March 2024 where two men stole a t-shirt from a sports store in Rundle Mall.
Operation Measure is a metropolitan wide police operation targeting shop theft with a focus on persons who commit shop theft using violence.
The operation commenced in March 2022 and has resulted in the arrest or report of over 1300 people for shop theft and other related offending.
Operation Measure officers pay particular attention to shop theft offences committed in the Adelaide CBD, including Rundle Mall and have regular contact with city retailers to gather evidence of theft and provide crime prevention advice.
South Australia Police encourage anyone with information on shop theft, including aggression towards retail staff to contact Crime Stoppers online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or call 1800 333 000.
All information can be provided anonymously.
