Melbourne restaurant crime jumped 45 per cent in four years
Crime at Victorian restaurants and fast-food venues climbed 45 per cent in four years, with break-ins up 75 per cent.
Award-winning chef Tinee Suntivatana's five businesses have been broken into at least seven times in recent years. One break-in saw thieves take her POS system, iPad and phone, then return with friends.
Thieves in a second incident stole a cake and left it behind. Ms Suntivatana has spent as much as $40,000 on repairs, stolen goods, and security upgrades.
Crime Statistics Agency figures show 6,894 criminal incidents at restaurants and fast-food venues in the year to March, with break-ins soaring from 966 to 1,693 over four years. Theft rose 57 per cent and assaults climbed by a third.
Licensed premises recorded 8,100 incidents, almost 60 per cent more than in 2022.
- 45 per cent over 4 years
- Restaurant crime increase
- 75 per cent (966 to 1,693)
- Break-ins increase
- 57 per cent
- Theft increase
- as much as $40,000
- Suntivatana's personal cost
Why it mattersRising crime at restaurants and fast-food venues across Victoria is making it harder for hospitality workers and owners to operate safely.
AustraliaVictorian hospitality sector facing surge in break-ins and violence affecting both staff safety and business profits.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 12 h ago
