A “crime wave” has hit an outback South Australian town, with alcohol restrictions unlikely to address the problems plaguing the area, a local business group has said.

Key points:

  • Tougher alcohol restrictions were introduced in the outback town of Coober Pedy last week
  • The local business and tourism association believes the restrictions alone will not stop criminal and antisocial behaviour in the town
  • More CCTV coverage in the town’s centre would help stem the problem, the business and tourism group says

New alcohol restrictions were brought in to Coober Pedy on December 1, restricting sales to one purchase per day per person, and prohibiting bottle shops from opening before 12pm.

The tightened restrictions on alcohol sales were introduced by Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Dini Soulio in a bid to control recent antisocial behaviour in the town.

But newly appointed chairman of the Coober Pedy Business and Tourism Association, George Kountouris said businesses within his committee were not consulted about the new restrictions.

New alcohol restrictions were introduced in the popular tourist town of Coober Pedy last week.(ABC News: Patrick Martin)

He said the town was facing a spike in break-ins, with some businesses being targeted multiple times.

“We’re experiencing a bit of a crime wave regarding licensed premises, quite a few have been hit in the past four to five days,” Mr Kountouris said.

“We’re seeing people are turning off power and entering with quite a few people, equipped with jemmy bars and stuff that can open up steel doors and stealing mainly alcohol … cash or alcohol, that’s what they’re after.”

He said the break-ins were sophisticated as businesses were not lax on security measures.

“The alcohol places have roller doors and security cameras and alarms and bolts, you name it … these people have managed to break through.”

Police launch targeted operation

Paul Isherwood, officer in charge of the Far North Local Service Area for SA Police, said there was a problem in recent weeks with a spate of crime in Coober Pedy.

“We did have a bit of a crime spree that resulted in two arrests: both juveniles, a male and female,” he said.

He said one of the juveniles was released on bail in Port Pirie and the other was remanded in custody until mid January, which had partially solved the issues as they were allegedly the “primary offenders” in the recent crimes.  

He said patrols from other towns including Port Pirie and Peterborough were brought in earlier this week for a targeted operation in Coober Pedy.

Alleged offenders in another Coober Pedy break-in earlier this year.(Supplied: George Kountouris)

“That was more to help the locals with some clearing of some outstanding warrants and to serve some outstanding summons that we needed to get done for residents that were either living in Coober or passing through Coober,” Superintendent Isherwood said.

He hoped the increased alcohol restrictions would help long-term improvements in community behaviour.

“Alcohol remains an issue in Coober Pedy, which is why we have those increased restrictions now … hopefully we’ll see some longer-term results of restricted purchasing.”

Trialling tightened restrictions 

Dini Soulio, Commissioner for Liquor and Gambling, said the tightened restrictions on alcohol were in response to feedback from members of the town, and were part of a three-month trial.

“We’ve had some feedback over the past few months about some increases in antisocial behaviour and harm associated with alcohol in and around Coober Pedy,” Mr Soulio said.

“One transaction per person per day is to address what we’re seeing, people buying on behalf of other people who might be barred from buying alcohol or from the prescribed lands.

“The other condition is around bottle shops not opening until midday — that’s designed with the support of the service providers in Coober Pedy, to give them an opportunity to engage with people who are struggling with alcohol harm and addiction,” he said.

“So people aren’t going through the cycle of commencing drinking early in the day and not being able to engage.”

He said the rules would be reviewed in February.

The Coober Pedy Business and Tourism Association says break-ins have increased in recent months. (Supplied: George Kountouris)

“[We will] see how it goes over the summer, and we’ll reassess it to see where to from there … and what the unintended consequences may have been,” he said.

Other measures needed

Coober Pedy Business and Tourism Association chairman George Kountouris said he was consulting with the council about potential CCTV in the town.

“We have enormous amounts of problems with antisocial behaviour and we rely on tourism … and it’s not a pretty site when tourists come to town and ask every day if it’s safe, because of course it’s safe,” he said.

“That is an important path going forward, if we have cameras that can identify people, places and number plates, that’s a deterrent.”