20-05-2025
Elizabeth IGA fights back at kids alleged to have stolen thousands of dollars' worth of goods
Opinions are split after a frustrated supermarket owner took to social media in a bid to stop a group of children stealing from his store.
The owner of Elizabeth Downs IGA, in Adelaide's northern suburbs, told 7NEWS he is powerless to stop the children, who are helping themselves to hundreds of dollars' worth of stock each week.
WATCH ABOVE: Mixed response after IGA publically shames children who allegedly stole from the store.
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Sick and tired of the children's sticky fingers, the supermarket fought back after catching them red-handed on May 17, posting the surveillance footage online.
'Can parents of these kids teach them not to steal?' they said on their Facebook post.
'Name and Shame them.'
The footage from the store's CCTV shows the children putting items down their pants.
While some praised the owners efforts, the critics say it's a breach of privacy for the children.
Acting South Australia's children's commissioner Mimi Crowe said the kids need support, not humiliation.
'Publicly naming and shaming children is not only a breach of privacy, it's ineffective,' she said.
'Children need support, not humiliation.'
Legal expert James Caldicott, however, said the store owner did not commit any offence.
'Isn't of itself unlawful, however it does open yourself up to civil remedies such as defamation and criminal prosecution for criminal defamation,' he said.
