A recent uptick of violent retail hits associated with the contraband tobacco trade has people especially spooked. Now business owners and residents in Western Australia are scared. In the early hours of Thursday morning a blaze broke out at a Target store in Ballajura. This fire is the third in less than two weeks at facilities associated with the black market for tobacco. Now, authorities are becoming justly alarmed. They think that these events are all part of a larger, more insidious trend of criminal enterprise that jeopardizes public safety at home.
The violence in the past months has impacted many communities. Two weeks ago, Chris and Amy Howes’ beauty salon was burnt down in an arson police now believe may have been specifically targeted due to the salon’s proximity to a convenience store with connections to the illegal tobacco trade. All during the hearing, the Howes made their displeasure known at being placed in this position. Amy’s voice rang with urgency, “If the cops do a raid and confiscate them, they’ll just be back up and running the next day. Their experience is not unique. A third South West business owner described violent and unsuccessful attempts to ram raid their stores last year, bringing to light the intimidation that lawful businesses in the area have experienced.
Calls for Legislative Action
Opposition police spokesman Adam Hort has said this raises alarm bells. He thinks the tempo of legislative movement to stop illegal tobacco sales is moving way too slowly. He explained that existing laws simply do not provide enough protection to deal with what he calls “underworld activity.”
“I’m pleading with the premier now — is this now the final straw? Is this now when you’re going to act and introduce legislation so we can shut these operations down?” – Adam Hort
Hort went on to recognize the fear that exists within our local communities. As I go to these firebombing sites and places where there were attacks, the people of these communities are terrified. Small businesses are shaken, fearful that they will be the next victim. He cautioned that if bold action isn’t done, we will face catastrophic impacts. It’s just a matter of time before someone gets injured,” he continued.
The surging violence, including a recent string of stabbings and grapple attacks, forced the state’s Premier, Roger Cook, to admit that current laws are pathetic. “We want to get them out of the building, we want to get them off the streets, we want to put them in jail,” he affirmed, vowing to take robust measures against criminal networks involved in distributing illegal tobacco products.
Community Responses and Concerns
Residents in Ballajura have voiced longstanding concerns about their safety during this increase in violence. Heroic local folks have fearlessly kept the story alive and told their truth. As one resident put it, “You may have the kids, walking around here, you feel at risk sometimes.” One resident summed up this feeling with the following words, “It’s getting dangerous to walk down the street.”
This feeling of insecurity has had a significant impact on the economic health of the area’s businesses. For the Howes, the loss of their salon has been devastating. They are subject to more stringent fiscal pressures. “Why should we be out of pocket, we’ve not done anything improper,” mentioned Amy with frustration.
Local business owner Sean McKeown particularly emphasized the heartbreaking effects that crime has taken on creating despair within commercial real estate. Getting the wrong tenant — the impact of that, it’s staggering,” he continued. For one, when businesses stay empty too long, it can lure illegal enterprises to settle in.
Ongoing Investigations and Future Implications
Against the backdrop of these incidents, inquiries are ongoing into other suspicious fires, which includes the fire in Huntingdale, WA, a suburb in Perth’s south-east. A 38 year old man from South Perth has since been charged with aggravated burglary. He is additionally charged with criminal damage by fire in reference to one of the most recent incidents.
Per latest comments from South West Police Superintendent Paul Van Noort, this is about much more than outright theft. It’s connected to much larger issues other than small-time crime. This is more than just the cost of a dollar bag of cigarettes,” he said. He pointed out that the current wave of violence is indicative of a larger rift within organized crime.
As authorities work to address this escalating crisis, both business owners and community members await urgent action from lawmakers and law enforcement. The fear is still very real as they continue praying for an end to the strife that threatened their safety and way of life.
