A rise in antisocial behaviour in Port Augusta has residents and business owners concerned that the town's youth crime will become "a similar situation to Alice Springs".
Concerns have grown in the city, which lies about 300 kilometres north-west of Adelaide, after a teenage girl was assaulted by a group of youths at a shopping centre last Thursday.
SA Police are investigating the matter but say the victim received minor injuries.
Local business owner and councillor Sam Bates said he had written a letter to the assistant police commissioner to request more assistance in dealing with the unsettling behaviour.
He said a number of businesses in the CBD were being targeted by vandals.
"The offenders are breaking in and causing a lot of damage to the buildings to steal low-cost items," Mr Bates said.
"Kids are using scooters to purposely ride into elderly people in the street, and when the children collide with them, they [the youths] laugh.
"There's very little respect for the people of Port Augusta, and now the behaviour has gotten worse which involves serious criminal trespass.
"Some of these kids are under the age of 10 and are as old as 15."
Mr Bates said there was a high rate of low-level crime that was not being reported.
"There's large groups of these kids and they hang around [the shops]," he said.
"These scooter boys are committing a quite a lot of low-level crime which is disturbing the community and it isn't being reported.
"The community is concerned that if we don't nip it in the bud then Port Augusta is going to end up in a similar situation to Alice Springs."
Discussions to be held
In response, police are conducting regular patrols of public areas and liaising with local business owners about how to prevent crime and deter would-be offenders.
Member for Giles Eddie Hughes said there has been success with a recent Outreach Program but a lot more needed to be done.
"When it comes to youth antisocial behaviour, we need a different approach, and the Department of Human Services is looking to coordinate with SAPOL [South Australia Police] and the Department of Child Protection to provide intensive support and identify those kids at high risk," Mr Hughes said.
"I'm meeting with senior police in Adelaide next week to discuss the resourcing issue in Port Augusta."
Mr Hughes said more resources and coordination was needed so that Port Augusta can feel safe and secure.
State Minister for Human Services Nat Cook said while the Outreach Program has had some success, longstanding social issues could not be solved overnight.
"The program has helped 240 people and 14 children return to country and reduce antisocial incidents on the streets since it began," Minister Cook said.
"As is often the case across summer months, there has been a reported escalation in negative youth activities.
"The Port Augusta Community Outreach program was not aimed specifically at youth but, in light of recent reports, there has been an increase to hours and access to services across Port Augusta."
