![\"CCTV](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/36118adb-817b-41ac-a18e-27e789f3cf01.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
CCTV of a man allegedly stealing a shirt from Off Ya Tree, Civic. Photo: Supplied.<\/p>\n
The doorbell outside McGlades Jewellers feels more like something you would expect at a warehouse or private office than one of Canberra\u2019s oldest retail businesses.<\/p>\n
But after years of rising antisocial behaviour around Garema Place, staff say it\u2019s a necessity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to put a doorbell on our business after 86 years in business,\u201d McGlades employee Michelle Dickerson told Region.<\/p>\n
Located opposite the Petrie Plaza merry-go-round, the jewellery store now keeps its front door locked, buzzing customers in individually.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-4256-1200x900.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
McGlades Jewellers moved from the Canberra Centre about seven years ago. Photo: James Coleman.<\/p>\n
Ms Dickerson said the decision followed repeated harassment from a drug-affected man who frightened staff and customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was making hand gestures through the windows, he was coming in and harassing people, he would follow people out of the store and make them feel uncomfortable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to call the police, and we actually had to take a personal protection order out on the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The concerns come as a recent Civic safety audit identified the merry-go-round precinct as one of Canberra\u2019s worst hotspots for antisocial behaviour.<\/p>\n
The report, commissioned by the City Renewal Authority, recorded 612 incidents across Civic over 22 days, including public drinking, drug use, intimidation, vandalism and physical altercations.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Canberra Business Chamber has also called for greater police presence in the city, while tempering sentiment by describing the city as \u201crelatively safe\u201d.<\/p>\n
ACT Police Minister Dr Marisa Paterson accused the Opposition of \u201cfear-mongering\u201d in the Legislative Assembly this week, and said government service data shows the ACT is safer now than ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth walking alone during the day and walking alone at night, ACT residents report the highest rates of perceptions of safety,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur city is more safe than ever, and that is testament to the community services that work in our city day in and day out.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-4252-1200x900.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
The doorbell is now a must for McGlades Jewellers. Photo: James Coleman.<\/p>\n
But Ms Dickerson isn\u2019t feeling it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt definitely is more noticeable to me \u2026 There\u2019s a lot more drug-affected people around.\u201d<\/p>\n
While she initially feared the doorbell would put customers off, the opposite has been true.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it makes customers feel safe when they\u2019re inside the store.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just around the corner in Petrie Plaza, staff at Off Ya Tree say police and ambulance callouts have become routine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re calling the police every few weeks, if not multiple times every few weeks,\u201d Hannah, who asked not to use her surname, told Region.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-4271-1200x900.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Hannah and Slats (last names withheld) from Off Ya Tree are phoning the police at least \u201cevery few weeks\u201d. Photo: James Coleman.<\/p>\n
One recent incident unfolded minutes before closing time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis guy came in the other day, and it was like two minutes before we closed, and he\u2019s just come in covered in blood, like no shirt, covered in blood, and taken a shirt \u2026 and just bolted out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was literally standing there like, \u2018What the f\u2013k? What just happened?’\u201d<\/p>\n
Police later arrested the man nearby.<\/p>\n
Hannah said it was far from an isolated incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day before, we had to call an ambulance for someone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there was a guy who was around with a knife. He came here a few times.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Zeecat](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-4273-1200x900.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
ZeeCat worker Maryam only goes into Civic after dark with friends. Photo: James Coleman.<\/p>\n
Across from the merry-go-round at toy and stationery store ZeeCat, worker Maryam said nights and weekends could become chaotic.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually at night-time there are always people running around screaming, fighting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had someone come into the store and start playing with the toys and riding the suitcases around the store. He was a grown man, definitely not right in the head.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maryam, who grew up in Canberra, said the city had changed noticeably over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it\u2019s way worse,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether she felt safe walking around Civic, she paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, not all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Dickerson believes empty shopfronts and a lack of smaller businesses have contributed to the decline around Garema Place, as many have moved into the greater security of the Canberra Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problems here have stemmed from the way the government has treated the tenancies in this section,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout 15 years ago, they let a huge corporation acquire many of the buildings inside Garema Place and empty them of small businesses for the purpose of filling the Canberra Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s left a lot of empty shop fronts. When you have empty shopfronts, that\u2019s when you have crime gather.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Petrie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-4241-1200x900.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Michelle Dickerson says Garema Place is a missed opportunity. Photo: James Coleman.<\/p>\n
She said the ACT Government needed to do more to revitalise the area and improve safety, particularly around the nearby bus interchange.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all incentivised to be on public transport, and that\u2019s been a huge push by the government, but then they\u2019re not making that area particularly safe,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Despite the challenges, business owners still believe Civic can recover.<\/p>\n
Ms Dickerson described Garema Place as \u201cthe jewel in the crown of Canberra\u201d, pointing to its trees, landscaping and public spaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping that with the opening of the new big hotel, that will be a signal for the gentrification of these shops,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019d be good to see small businesses like ours receive incentives, and then we\u2019d have more of a group dynamic here \u2026 where you have more passing traffic. It would all help this crime problem.\u201d<\/p>\n