Roadside stall operators question future of honesty box system after crimes

Roadside stall operators question future of honesty box system after crimes In short: Operators of a roadside pantry in the SA's Riverland have lost hundreds of dollars due to theft and vandalism. Roadside stall operators say they are dealing with more theft, prompting them to rethink the honesty payment system. What's next? Once the pantry in the Riverland is fixed, it will be cemented into the ground and the money box reinforced. Roadside stalls are a much-loved tradition in regional and rural Australia, and the honesty payment system is a big part of the experience. But theft and vandalism is making some operators rethink the honour system. In South Australia's Riverland, about 80 kilometres out of Adelaide, Michelle Carter and her family started selling goods at the end of their driveway in August. Every Saturday morning, they restock the 100-year-old meat safe with everything from sauce and sourdough to cupcakes made by Ms Carter's 15-year-old daughter. But recently, when her kids went to put some freshly collected eggs into the pantry, they were met with a "heartbreaking" sight. "They found the pantry face down, the money box ripped off the side," Ms Carter said. She estimates about $60 in cash was stolen, along with about $300 worth of stock that was either taken or damaged. The incident occurred in broad daylight while the family was fencing in a nearby paddock. Most upsetting to Ms Carter was the damage done to the pantry, which the family had carefully restored. "If people are going to take stock and destroy that, then fine. But the pantry was expensive and we've spent a lot of time revamping it," she said. "There's only one place in South Australia that still make it[s parts], and that's in Port Pirie. So, we're in the process of trying to get some … so we can keep it original." For her 15-year-old daughter, the effort of baking fresh cupcakes on Friday night had gone to waste. "She was a little bit devastated, to be honest. I think she took it harder than me. She found it like a personal insult," Ms Carter said. "It's not even about finances … it's about the heartbreak of someone wanting to do that and ruin someone's effort and work that they put into doing something better for their lives," Ms Carter said. Once the pantry is restored, it will be cemented into the ground and the money box reinforced. Cameras have already been installed in preparation for the eventual reopening. A short-lived flower stall Adelaide Barbaro gave up trying to sell flowers from her own roadside stall after just three months following a series of thefts of both product and money. Located in One Tree Hill, on the outskirts on Adelaide, Ms Barbaro decided to sell directly to florists instead. "It's quite sad because I love the idea of roadside stalls and being able to do that little thing from home," she said. "You'd have that initial excitement of a few sales, and then ultimately those bad experiences just, it wasn't a good feeling. "My kids would see how much effort I was putting in, and it would be Saturday morning, Sunday morning, making these bouquets when that should be really family time." Though it was ultimately not the right business model for her, Ms Barbaro said she did not regret starting out with a roadside stall. "I think it can really work for some people … the experience is 99 per cent joyful and honest," Ms Barbaro said. "You've just got to work out what works for you, I suppose." Room for the honesty system? Ms Carter believes the honesty payment system still has a place, but her experience has made her more reserved about it. "You'll have some losses in a business all the time from theft, even in big shops," she said. "But as for the money side of it, I'm not sure that money belongs up at the end of someone's driveway anymore." Though cash will still be an option for now at the 90 Acre Pantry, if there was another theft Ms Carter said she would move to only accepting online payments. "If someone was hungry and they took a jar of relish, well, I'm not going to punish them. But if someone wants to steal all our money, then that's maybe a different story," she said. After finding the damage, Ms Carter initially planned to close down the roadside pantry. But after receiving messages of support from around the country, she changed her mind. "Whoever did it, they didn't win."