Thomson Lucky 7 convenience store owner Cathy Wei ‘scared’ by tobacco wars

The owner of a Thomson store mistakenly firebombed twice has revealed the mental toll of the attacks, while other business owners have been left “scared”.

A convenience store was wrongfully targeted twice by arsonists. Picture: Satria Dyer-Darmawan

The owner of a Thomson convenience store targeted twice by arsonists suspected to be linked to the tobacco wars says she has been left scared and depressed, as other traders fear further attacks could threaten their businesses.

A store selling illegal cigarettes in Norlane and a convenience store in Thomson have both been attacked by arsonists twice in quick succession.

The Thomson store, Lucky 7 convenience, was attacked on Friday and Sunday mornings.

Owner Cathy Wei said the store didn’t sell illegal cigarettes, leaving her confused as to why it was targeted.

“We’ve never had anything like this before,” Ms Wei said.

“We serve milk and takeaway, we sell pies and lollies to kids, we’ve served the community for 20 years.

Lucky 7 on Boundary Rd was first attacked Friday November 8.

“We are struggling because we don’t sell the illegal cigarettes, people go to other stores, we’re lost 70 or 80 per cent of our customers.

“The police came and said (the arsonist) got the wrong target.”

Ms Wei said as bad as the first attack was, the second has left her not feeling confident enough to re-open.

“I feel so scared, I feel depressed,” Ms Wei said.

“The police have been nice, but I’m still very upset because it has destroyed my confidence to rebuild.

It was hit again on Sunday. Picture: Satria Dyer-Darmawan

“I don’t know what to do next.”

In Norlane, a Donnybrook Rd store that sells illegal cigarettes but poses as a hair salon has been attacked each of the last two Saturdays.

The store was still boarded up on Monday morning.

One shop owner along the strip, who did not want to be named, aired frustration with police, saying the illegal tobacco trade needed to be shut down as soon as possible to avoid another incident.

Other workers along the strip said they felt it was “inevitable” that it would eventually be targeted, and had felt that way since the tobacco wars began heating up in Melbourne last year.A resident near the Norlane store said the recent pair of blazes left him and his family feeling “scared.”

“I will be uncomfortable every night,” he said.

The shopping strip is located in the middle of suburban Norlane, with one neighbour saying the craziest thing he’d seen around the area was a minor car accident.

He questioned the authorities handling of the initial attack, adding he was “not surprised” the second time.

“Last time it happened there wasn’t much damage,” he said.

The attacks left people around the area in Norlane “scared.” Picture: Mark Wilson

“Firefighters and police came, the scene was cleaned up pretty quickly, and it opened straight away.”

It’s not the first time the region has been involved with the ongoing conflict, however it is the most intense period.

In March, it was reported that four businesses had been attacked over the space of eight months.

Taskforce Lunar was set up in October 2023 in response to a string of attacks on tobacconists throughout the state.

The taskforce pulls together specialist investigators to look at the organised crime groups currently involved in the importation and sale of illicit tobacco in the state.

Since its inception, 94 arrests have been made in relation to 114 fires dating back March of last year.

It has not only been premises selling tobacco products targeted, but also those linked to syndicates involved with the trade including function centres and restaurants.

In October of this year police raided a pair of Geelong tobacco stores, seizing cash vapes and over 80,000 illegal cigarettes.

Originally published as Thomson Lucky 7 convenience store owner Cathy Wei ‘scared’ by tobacco wars