Nate Godfrey says he no longer feels safe in his own home after waking up to a group of intruders early on Friday.
Alleged crimes like these are on the rise in Adelaide and Godfrey is among a growing group calling for tougher penalties.
“I’m three or four metres from the front door and I woke up from a deep sleep with a silhouette entering the house,” he told 9News.
Police allege a group of six boys, the youngest just 13, was responsible.
Godfrey said he chased them away.
“At that moment and that split second you need to make a decision about how you are going to defend your family and your property,” he said.
The boys were arrested about 3am after the tyres of a black Mazda SUV were spike on the Salisbury Highway following a dramatic chase across the city.
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In the past 12 months, home invasions have soared by 311 incidents, while robberies jumped 27 per cent.
Serious assaults causing injury increased by 16 per cent and police officer assaults rose by 36 per cent.
Opposition Leader David Speirs told 9News the state had seen crime rates consistently decline over 10 years but a sudden surge had occurred in the last year.
“If that keeps on going South Australians have a lot to be scared about,” he said.
Labor minister Tom Koutsantonis said the government would review penalty thresholds for criminal behaviour.
“We’ve been tough on this and if there’s any changes that need to be made I know that the attorney-general and police minister will work day and night to make sure we can do this,” he said.
