bored and barred
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8/8/2019 Bored and Barred
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TRADERS claim loitering youths onMount Gambiers streets have forcedthem to close their doors early dueto increasing theft, aggression andintimidation.
Reports of youths angering storeowners and intimidating shoppersduring the once popular late night
trading on Thursdays in MountGambier prompted an investigationby The Border Watch last week.
Over the course of the nightin the central shopping precinct,Commercial Street resembled aclosed carnival ground in whichrestless youths treated the citycentre as their playground while anincreasing number of fed up shopowners closed their doors.
One shop owner, who asked toremain nameless due to fears offurther harassment, emphasisedthe seriousness of the situation.
We are often closing early nowbecause of the problems we havewith the young kids - that is howbad it has become, he said.
Look across the road - it is themain trading night of the week andall the shops are shut.
The shop owner reported that hehad concerns for the safety of hisstaff and customers on many occa-sions.
Customers are scared - we havehad to walk people to their cars and
my staff often ask me to do the samefor them, he said.
Peter Gandolfi, who owns aCommercial Street shop, said he alsofeared for the safety of his staff.
There are often youths abouthurling abuse - when this is hap-pening I have to bear in mind thesafety of the staff, he said.
Mr Gandolfi said he was consider-ing reducing his trading hours evenfurther due to the problems affectingthe main street.
I am only open until seven, butam looking at closing even earlieras business is becoming worse, hesaid.
According to shop owners whospoke to The Border Watch saidincidents included theft, petty
vandalism to cars and shops, violentbrawls, offensive language yelledat pedestrians and skateboardersplaying chicken with customersusing the footpath.
One shop assistant reported agroup of teenagers had walkedover the top of her car, damagingthe roof.
An employee at clothing shopsaid theft attempts were commonon Thursday nights.
Girls often give me a hard timeand play around to try and steal a
jacket, she said.Another shop assistant pinpointed
young girls to be the worst offend-ers.
Continued page 4
BORED:A group of young individuals told The Border Watchof their boredom,with nowhere else to go on a Thursday night but the shops.
CLEANING UP: Centro Mount Gambier manager John Cooper hasspoken about the shopping complexs recent success in cleaning upproblems with misbehaving youths. Picture: JACOB MOSS.
BY JACOBMOSSEmail: [email protected]
Bored and barredMount Gambier traders forced to close doors as youths roam streets
Riddoch Hwy, Coonawarra
Phone 08 8736 3222
www.digiorgio.com.au
Open times:
10.00 - 5.00pm everyday
529164
COONAWARRACELLAR
DWELLERSJuly1-31,2010
KEEPING THE SOUTH EAST INFORMED SINCE 1861 www.borderwatch.com.au | $1.00Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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