by Margaret Mackay September 8, 2024

In a new twist to the ongoing crime wave occurring at the Opal Capital in the Far North of South Australia, elderly residents have become the latest soft target for robberies and abuse.

 Elderly residents living alone are being targeted in serious criminal trespass, including assaults/robberies by gangs of reportedly up to 6 individuals;  occurring after police have closed up shop for the night at the Opal Fields township.  Local reports of elderly men living alone being bashed and robbed, then simply left on the ground are circulating the district.

One such ordeal, so far unreported occurred at approximately 1am on the 1st of September 2024, when an elderly gentleman thought to be aged over 80 years old and suffering from pancreatic cancer was beaten up in his home after a gang of thieves smashed and kicked in his front door. The thieves left after stealing $400 in cash. The victim sustained a broken arm among other bruising and shock and is believed to have been hospitalised. The man was not found until around midday the following day.

Despite high incidents of assaults and robberies, Coober Pedy’s reports are slipping through the cracks at Police Media, and have gone unpublished. Locals say that desperate visitors to the town are breaking into homes and stealing anything of value. Sometimes the same victims are targeted over and over again.

Not reported by Police Media is, if any arrests have been made as a result of assaults and robberies that have targeted the older residents of Coober Pedy. This is a bureaucratic disgrace, and those paying public servant wages demand equal attention for remote areas. The lives of our elderly people may be in your hands. How will friends and neighbours know that someone may be in a hospital or even dead if there is no transparency at this critical level? Who decides to suppress that vitally important information from a community known to be at serious risk?

One resident living alone said they were awakened when a heavy rock landed on their roof just after midnight. The person said they immediately felt to investigate but decided against it! Had the community been made aware that gangs were roaming the streets at night looking to break and enter into people’s homes while they slept? Answer: NO!

While it may be instinctive to open the door and shine a torch out, do not make it easy for gangs or potential thieves to enter your homes. Ring a neighbour or friend, or if there is a real concern, ring 000, or 131 444 (if you can) where your call will be actioned. One resident suggested that various street areas could set up mini-neighbourhood watch groups to keep an eye on vulnerable people who might have already become targets.

A regular traveler to the Opal Capital has contacted the Coober Pedy Regional Times saying, “To hear about the assaults on older people living alone, especially when in two months I’ll be visiting Coober Pedy has me in a quandary.

“1) Who’s responsible for the violence and why aren’t the cops doing something about it? 2.) Will I be obliged to defend myself the whole time I’m there? Maybe a little dramatic but I don’t feature getting beaten up. Of course, last year it was roving gangs of feral dogs … but gee, what next?”

South Australia should be experiencing much higher tourism traffic in September, however, the opposite is true. Very few tourists are on the highway heading north. September is normally a peak time to travel to the Opal Mining town of Coober Pedy and other outback destinations, while the weather is sensational.

What will it take before the current State Government allocates satisfactory resources to remote area hot spots where serious criminal activity is a daily/nightly occurrence? How far will the government let this go before they implement some sort of Emergency Response? To any government hoping to be re-elected, “By your works, you will be judged”.

Residents believe that the state government has been approached many times about the urgency for 24-hour policing in the past several decades. Far North residents feel that their needs are ignored because remote areas don’t have enough voting strength to warrant political consideration.

This week the Police Association of South Australia’s President Wade Burns released in a public statement to the media that Coober Pedy requires 21 full-time officers but has only 13 police on rostered duties. “Our country communities deserve exactly the same level of police service as our metro communities”, said Wade Burns.

RECENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT COOBER PEDY does not specify any assaults.

07/8/24 – Wright Rd – Theft
Unknown offender/s stolen number plates and camping gear from a vehicle
11/8/24 – Italian Club Rd – Serious Criminal Trespass/Theft
Unknown offender/s entered unoccupied premises and stole personal effects. Value TBA
11/8/2024 – Ferrall St – Serious Criminal Trespass/Property Damage
Unknown offender/s jemmied front door of unoccupied home and damaged walls inside.
13/8/2024 – Northwest Ridge – Theft
Unknown offender/s stolen vehicle parked in the front yard of the premises. Nil CCTV.

14/8/2024 – Grey St – Serious Criminal Trespass – Theft
Unknown offender/s gain entry into an unoccupied house and shed further damaging doors to the value of $2000. Approx $2000 worth of property stolen.
14/8/2024 – Aylett St – Serious Criminal Trespass
Unknown offender/s stole alcohol from unoccupied premises
15/8/2024 – Bourke St – Serious Criminal Trespass
Unknown offender/s stolen property from unoccupied caravan
15/8/2024 – Stuart Hwy – Fatal Collision
Police are investigating a fatal crash at Mount Willoughby in the state’s Far North. Just before 6.30pm Thursday 15 August, police and emergency services were called to the Stuart Highway about 50 kilometres north of Coober Pedy after reports of a van rollover. Sadly, the driver and single occupant of the vehicle, a 37-year-old woman from Victoria, died at the scene. Major Crash Officers in attendance. The woman’s death is the 55th life lost on SA roads.

17/8/2024 – Gough St – Aggravated Serious Criminal Trespass/Theft
Offender/s smashed front window of premises and entered whilst occupant asleep. Stolen coins and keys before stealing motor vehicle in front yard. Investigations continuing.
20/8/2024 – Alp St – Serious Criminal Trespass/ Theft
Alcohol Stolen from property after unknown offenders smashed front window with rock.

Serious criminal trespass – Law Handbook Serious criminal trespass occurs if a person enters or remains in a place (other than a place that is open to the public) as a trespasser with the intention of committing an offense involving theft, or against a person (such as assault), or against property punishable by imprisonment for 3 years or more (such as arson) …

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE MEDIA FROM COMMUNITY

Approx 2am Saturday morning 31/8/2924
2 Intruders broke into an occupied property on 17 Mile Road, stealing a carton of beer, 4 or 5 cans of rum and Coke, and food from a refrigerator. Approx value $100 Intruders were caught on CCTV. Police TBA

Reports of begging and humbugging outside the IGA Supermarket, Food Venues, and near Bottle Shops continue to be problematic. Tourists are still being humbugged to buy alcohol for transients from prescribed lands. Many tourists are agreeing to do so. That those influxing from remote communities are seeking to purchase knives from local businesses is concerning. Open drinking of alcohol in dry areas continues.