By Lachlan Abbott and Chris Vedelago
A director of a Collingwood supermarket that was set alight in a suspected arson attack was targeted less than a week ago with a fire at his home.
Sonsa Market went up in flames early Thursday morning after three people wearing balaclavas smashed the shop’s windows with a sledgehammer.
Victoria Police say emergency services were called to Smith Street in Melbourne’s inner north after a trio broke into a shop and started a fire, before fleeing in a silver SUV just before 3am.
A source with knowledge of the incidents, but unable to speak publicly, said it was the second time a man associated with the business had been targeted, after cars were set alight at a Fawkner home early on Saturday.
Victoria Police confirmed officers were called to reports of two unoccupied cars on fire about 5.30am.
They said no one was injured and the circumstances were yet to be determined, but said the car blaze was being treated as suspicious.
The family-owned supermarket, which specialises in Turkish and Mediterranean foods, has been operating since 1983.
“Devastating news but unfortunately due to an attempted burglary, the shop will be closed until further notice,” a post on Sonsa Market’s Instagram account read on Thursday. “Thank you everyone for all your support.”
Fire Rescue Victoria said firefighters arrived within six minutes of the fire being reported.
They quickly managed to contain the fire to the front of the building, with the blaze brought under control by 3.10am.
After it was extinguished, police found jerry cans and a blowtorch nearby.
Officers searched the area but were unable to find the offenders.
The fire has been deemed suspicious and the investigation remains ongoing.
Senior Constable Julia Groves said on Thursday afternoon investigators were still speaking with the store’s owners to figure out why it had been targeted.
A sledgehammer and a small purple blowtorch rest at the scene of a break-in and arson attack in Collingwood.Credit: Paul Jeffers
When asked whether the attack was linked to the Saturday car fire, Groves said: “We are still speaking with that owner, and obviously the informants who had those incidents reported to them, to see if we can establish if it’s linked.”
Fire investigators arrived mid-morning and began speaking to nearby shopkeepers. Inspectors photographed the burnt-out front interior of the store, bagging evidence and detailing the scene, while passers-by watched on and trams trundled past.
Hannah Tang, the owner of a discount shop three doors down, said that crime and drunkenness had sometimes been a problem along the popular street, but this incident was out of the ordinary.
“We worry about the security of this area. It’s a big problem, actually. It usually happens when some people have drunk too much … But this one is the worst,” she said.
The inside of Sonsa Market after a suspicious fire overnight damaged the front part of the store.Credit: Paul Jeffers
“Sometimes they just rob something … but this one is so bad.”
Tang added the grocer was popular with locals, and the attack saddened her.
Police are urging anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage, or who may have seen a silver SUV or people acting suspiciously in the area around the time of the fire, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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