CCTV footage captured the ‘horrific’ incident that unfolded at an Adelaide store.
A young Adelaide supermarket worker has been attacked while trying to stop an alleged shoplifter, sparking new calls for harsher penalties for those who assault retail staff.
The woman was working at Drakes Walkley Heights when she was allegedly set upon by a shopper who she tried to confront.
CCTV footage, obtained exclusively by 7NEWS, appears to show the alleged thief pulling the worker’s hair and wrestling with her before hurling lollipops at her and fleeing the scene.
The alleged shoplifter and her friend were earlier seen on CCTV stuffing groceries into their clothes.
The pair – aged 14 and 17, were later charged with theft, while the younger teen was also charged with assault.
Drakes Supermarkets Director John-Paul Drake said the incident was “one of the most horrific scenes” he had witnessed in his time working in retail.
“This footage needs to be out there so people can understand this is some of the things we’re dealing with on the front line and it’s just not acceptable,” he told 7NEWS.
“The power of CCTV in this example is proven to be very successful because the one thing about the camera, it actually doesn’t lie.”
It’s the latest incident in a string of attacks on retail workers, compelling the retail union, SDA, to call for young employees to be given the same level of protection as emergency service workers.
“[It] will not be tolerated in South Australia and it will be met with the toughest possible penalties against those people who choose to behave in such a way,” SDA secretary Josh Peak told 7NEWS.
Extracted from 7news
