Operation Endurance launched after organised crime linked to arsons

Police will allege about 12.30am on Monday 12 January 2026, three men broke into the Payneham business before starting a fire causing internal and structural damage to an estimated value of approximately $3 million.

Initial investigations by Eastern District Detectives into the arson attack resulted in the arrest of a 20-year-old man from Christies Beach on Wednesday 4 February. He was charged with serious criminal trespass, arson, illegal use of a motor vehicle and theft of petrol.

Due to other offending which is believed to be linked to the Payneham arson, Operation Endurance commenced in March 2026 within the Serious and Organised Crime Branch.

As a result of further investigations, on 25 March and 24 June Operation Endurance detectives arrested two men aged 21 and 43, both of Christie Downs in connection with the Payneham incident. They have been charged with serious criminal trespass, arson, illegal use of a motor vehicle and theft of petrol.

The three accused are now before the courts relative to those offences.

Operation Endurance detectives are continuing to investigate the linked incidents, which include three arson attacks on a Malvern carwash and the shooting of a house in Rostrevor between January and March 2026.

Police suspect the following incidents were committed at the direction of serious and organised crime figures and are seeking information from the public to assist the investigation and identify those involved.

At about midnight on 1 January 2026 an attempted arson was reported at a carwash and cafe on Unley Road, Malvern. On that occasion, a break in occurred and a fuel can was left in the foyer of the business.

At about 3.55am on 7 January, two offenders broke into the same carwash, doused the inside with an accelerant and set fire to the premises causing extensive damage.

About 2.30am on 26 February, a shotgun was discharged at a house in Rostrevor. A single round was discharged and pierced the front of a house, damaging a window and roller shutter.  The house was occupied at the time, but fortunately no one was injured.

At about 1am on 18 March, a third arson was committed on the Malvern carwash. This fire destroyed the property with damage estimated at $500,000.

Operation Endurance detectives are continuing investigations into the carwash arson attacks and the shooting incident and have today released CCTV and still images in an effort to seek information from the public.

The vision is from two of the offences.

The first video is from CCTV of the arsonists responsible for offending at the Malvern carwash on 7 January.

The second video shows a vehicle and person of interest which was captured on a nearby residential CCTV camera at the time of the Rostrevor shooting on 26 February. A photograph obtained by detectives during the investigation of a firearm with some unique visual features has also been released in the hopes someone recognises the firearm or can provide police any information about it.

Detectives are seeking information about the offences, the people or car captured in the CCTV vision along with the firearm in the photo.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact South Australia Police or Crime Stoppers either online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or by calling 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously.

Quotes attributable to Detective Superintendent Campbell Hill, Officer in Charge of Serious and Organised Crime Branch.

"These arrests demonstrate South Australia Police's commitment to identifying, disrupting and dismantling organised criminal activity, and ensuring those responsible are held accountable before the courts.

“The offences committed in this series, as with any organised crime offending, underscore the broader and significant risks which exist to the wider community.

“The arson offences have caused significant loss and disruption for the owners and employees of the involved businesses.

“The shooting at a private house is disgraceful and carries with it the greatest of risks in that the intended targets and innocent or unintended people can be injured or killed.

“Investigators remain committed to pursuing those responsible and those who direct or instigate these offences.”

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