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11
7-DAY TV GUIDE WRESTLING

Bored and barred

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Mount Gambier traders forced to close doors as youths roam streets

BY JACOB MOSS
Email: jake@tbw.com.au

TRADERS claim loitering youths on

Mount Gambier’s streets have forced
them to close their doors early due
to increasing theft, aggression and
intimidation.
Reports of youths angering store
owners and intimidating shoppers
during the once popular late night
trading on Thursdays in Mount
Gambier prompted an investigation
by The Border Watch last week.
Over the course of the night
in the central shopping precinct,
Commercial Street resembled a
BORED: A group of young individuals told The Border Watch of their boredom,
closed carnival ground in which
with nowhere else to go on a Thursday night but the shops.
restless youths treated the city
centre as their playground while an my staff often ask me to do the same vandalism to cars and shops, violent
increasing number of “fed up” shop for them,” he said. brawls, offensive language yelled
owners closed their doors. Peter Gandolfi, who owns a at pedestrians and skateboarders
One shop owner, who asked to Commercial Street shop, said he also playing chicken with customers
remain nameless due to fears of feared for the safety of his staff. using the footpath.
further harassment, emphasised “There are often youths about One shop assistant reported a
the seriousness of the situation. hurling abuse - when this is hap- group of teenagers had walked
“We are often closing early now pening I have to bear in mind the over the top of her car, damaging
because of the problems we have safety of the staff,” he said. the roof.
with the young kids - that is how Mr Gandolfi said he was consider- An employee at clothing shop
bad it has become,” he said. ing reducing his trading hours even said theft attempts were common
“Look across the road - it is the further due to the problems affecting on Thursday nights.
main trading night of the week and the main street. “Girls often give me a hard time
all the shops are shut.” “I am only open until seven, but and play around to try and steal a
The shop owner reported that he am looking at closing even earlier jacket,” she said.
had concerns for the safety of his as business is becoming worse,” he Another shop assistant pinpointed
staff and customers on many occa- said. young girls to be the worst offend-
sions. According to shop owners who ers. CLEANING UP: Centro Mount Gambier manager John Cooper has
“Customers are scared - we have spoke to The Border Watch said spoken about the shopping complex’s recent success in cleaning up
had to walk people to their cars and incidents included theft, petty Continued page 4 problems with misbehaving youths. Picture: JACOB MOSS.

WEATHER Mt Gambier Today - A few showers. Windy afternoon. 12o – page 25 PUZZLE PAGE Page 16 COMICS Page 12 CLASSIFIEDS Pages 17-19

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