Concerns have been raised about antisocial conduct at and around Jull St Mall.
The Examiner spoke to several locals and shopkeepers in the area, who have all revealed consistent patterns.
One of the major issues was youth crime.
“We have a lot of issues with the youth. They seem to think that they own the place. They will come into this shop and expect to be able to take stuff, whether that’s running up to grab product and running out with it, calling staff members names, threatening us, kind of the whole nine yards, really,” one shopkeeper said.
“We also get a lot of people that are under the influence of drugs and alcohol. When they come into the store, they’ll come in holding a beer. We’ve had numerous people that come in with whole open wine bottles as well. These people are usually very unpredictable, and they can get aggressive very quickly.
“It’s not nice coming to work feeling unsafe, and I’m sure my co-workers feel it too.”
When asked what she would like the authorities, or the City of Armadale, to do to curb this behaviour, the shopkeeper said more direct action needs to be taken.
“I know the police do foot patrols every so often through the centre, but they’re generally not around when you need them, unfortunately. I think if security were able to enforce the laws a little bit more, it’d be better. If a group of people have been kicked out of one store and they’re then doing the exact same thing at another store, kick them out of the entire centre rather than let them go from store to store creating the same problems,” she said.
Similar remarks were made by another shopkeeper in Armadale Shopping City.
“We’ve had a lot of teenagers just wandering outside the shop. More often than not, they kind of just stand outside the door, not necessarily watching us, but just lurking. Sometimes they just stand there and watch our behaviours to see what we’re doing, and then they’ll come in later when we’re busy to take something,” she said.
The same shopkeeper said she had received heinous death threats while on the job.
“These people stole $300 worth of product and then threatened to kill me if I snitched them into the police. I tried to ask them for their ID and de-escalate the situation, but it didn’t stop them. These two people were both minors.
“As to what can be done to fix the situation, maybe more security, but I’ve never seen them actually engage with thieves. They just stand out the front. If you can’t even touch the people stealing, why are you even there?”
Several other individuals said they feel the issue of theft is getting worse, probably due to cost-of-living issues. Additionally, one local business owner said that many businesses along Jull St Mall are closing, or have already left, due to repeated issues with break-ins and vandalism, and that employees at his own business had been threatened with knives on several occasions.
The City of Armadale said they were well aware of the issue.
“The city is aware of retail theft from both shopping centres in the Jull St Mall area. It is understood from WA Police and store managers that retail theft has been increasing across Perth, including for food items, with many centres experiencing similar challenges,” a city spokesperson said.
“Over the past year, we have worked with WA Police, shopping centre managers, local businesses, security providers and community service organisations to develop a coordinated, response to retail theft and antisocial behaviour.
“The city has funded outreach services to help connect vulnerable people congregating in the Jull Street Mall with alcohol and other drug treatment providers, mental health services, emergency accommodation and counselling. Additionally, the city has recently secured $125,000 through the WA Police Community Safety Fund to continue and expand this work from July 2026. Palmerston Association will work alongside HOPE Community Care to provide regular outreach, engagement and referral services for vulnerable people in Jull St Mall area.”
The city emphasised that, while theft continues as an issue, antisocial behaviour more generally is on the decline.
“WA Police advised that while retail theft remains an ongoing challenge, incidents of antisocial behaviour within the mall and surrounding areas have reduced during the coordinated community safety initiative. The city has also invested in a range of practical measures to improve safety and amenity. These include improved lighting, increased street sweeping and high-pressure cleaning.
“We have further secured funding for two additional CCTV cameras to address surveillance blind spots and are connecting our CCTV network to the WA Police system to support police access to live camera feeds.”
The city said that regular coordination between themselves, WA Police, private security services and outreach providers are occurring, and that this helps to review emerging issues and develop coordinated responses. The city said it was grateful to the police force for their ongoing dedication in solving the issue.
They have acknowledged the unused status of several former sites in the mall area, reducing the potential for a lively atmosphere in the town centre. However, plans are reportedly in place to change this.
“Increasing the number of occupied retail and hospitality premises is an important part of the long-term revitalisation of the city centre and will require a shared commitment from the city, property owners and the private sector,” said the city spokesperson.
“Through the proposed Small Business Shopfront Improvement Grant, the multi-million-dollar Karlup Journey Place project and other city centre revitalisation initiatives, we are investing in measures that encourage activation, increase visitation and strengthen confidence in Armadale’s city centre.
“The city remains committed to working with businesses, property owners, WA Police, service providers and the wider community to improve safety, support vulnerable people and create a more vibrant and welcoming city centre.”
Armadale Police said they are also well aware of the issues and are actively targeting known suspects.
“We are currently conducting targeted operations within the Armadale CBD, focusing on antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. These operations are ongoing and form part of a coordinated approach to ensure the community can continue to feel safe when living, working, and visiting the area,” an Armadale Police spokesperson said.
“These proactive operations involve a range of strategies designed to improve safety, visibility, and responsiveness, including increased high-visibility foot and vehicle patrols throughout the CBD, Jull Street Mall and the new train station precinct, regular engagement with local businesses, social service providers, and the City’s Ranger Services, direct collaboration with private security operating in the CBD and enhanced use of CCTV and radio communications to identify emerging issues and support timely responses.
“Armadale Police will continue to maintain a strong presence in the area and respond promptly to incidents, identifying, managing, and dispersing individuals responsible for disorderly or criminal behaviour. The community can expect to see ongoing police activity as part of efforts to deter offending and provide reassurance.
“We encourage centre management, retailers, security personnel, and members of the community to report incidents and assist in maintaining an accurate understanding of local issues and directing resources where they are needed most.”
Armadale Shopping City was contacted for comment.
