A woman from Adelaide’s northern suburbs is facing the prospect of becoming the first person in South Australia to be charged under tough new laws aimed at adults who push kids into crime.
The 34-year-old from Devon Park was arrested along with two accused child burglars, aged only 16 and 12, following a string of robberies that were caught on camera.
One of the robberies unfolded at about 1am on Sunday when three hooded figures emerged from a car and attempted to break into the Mitchell Park Pharmacy.
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Once inside, two of them jumped over the counter, one heading for the cash register containing $100, while the other targeted the dispensary.
“They just grabbed a couple of bottles of medication on the way out,” owner Chris Gardiakos said.
“It wasn’t a very profitable exercise.”
The trio is also accused of robbing the Terry White Chemmart on Military Road an hour later.
Police say the car was then involved in a petrol drive-off on Port Wakefield Road before it was tracked to the Augusta Highway near Crystal Brook where three people were arrested.
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“It’s quite disgusting that an adult would involve such a young child,” Gardiakos said.
“That’s a big issue. Adults that do that should really be treated quite harshly by the law.”
Police are examining the newly implemented laws, passed just days ago, which carry the strictest penalties in the nation for adults who recruit children to crime.
“I think this is a classic example of that,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said.
“I know the investigators are looking at whether the new legislation applies to this particular set of circumstances.
“But it’s disgraceful that an adult would exploit children that way.”
The trio was denied bail.
This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
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