Coburg business owners say they’re losing business to drug fuelled crime on Victoria Street Mall

Traders at a Melbourne shopping mall in the northern suburbs say they are losing customers as stabbings, assaults, public urination and nudity turn the area into a no-go zone.

Traders at a mall in Melbourne’s inner north fear drug-fuelled crime is driving away customers and putting workers at risk as they call for an increase in safety measures

Sareef Hasan, who owns Half Moon Cafe at the Victoria Street Mall, said his staff had become fearful of coming to work because of anti-social behaviour in the mall.

“I’ve pretty much seen everything,’’ he said.

“We’ve seen public nudity, we’ve seen open urination, we’ve seen head slammed into a phone booth. I have personally been assaulted outside my own workplace.”

Half Moon Cafe Sareef Hasan owner is pleading with authorities to increase safety in Coburg's Victoria Street Mall after a series of crime on the street. Picture: Hugo Timms.

Mr Hasan, who’s family has been running Half Moon Cafe for more than 21 years, said he was “sick” of constantly apologising and telling customers, “Sorry, these are just Coburg things”.

“All of the businesses within Victoria Street Mall have had to deal with similar things,” he said.

Mr Hasan said anti-social behaviour and crime had progressively gotten worse.

“About a month ago, there was also a stabbing in the mall; that’s pretty massive. I don’t want it to get to the point where someone is going to lose their life,” he said.

Recent Crime Statistics Agency data revealed the Merri-bek LGA had already recorded more than 10,200 criminal incidents this year — Coburg alone had recorded more than 260 crimes against a person, including assault and more than 1300 offences related to theft and burglary.

Victoria Street Mall business owners say the increase in crime has damaged their business. Picture: Himangi Singh

The owner of Chorba Cafe, who did not want her name published, told the Herald Sun this year had been the toughest for her business.

“I’ve been here for five years, and it’s getting worse. People affected by drugs and alcohol come up to the tables asking for money from customers,” she said.

“When declined, they throw chairs and hit the tables, swearing at customers; that’s been affecting the business a lot.

“Parents and families have told me straight to my face that they are not coming back here again because they don't want kids seeing such things.

“This year has been my hardest year. We’ve lost a lot of business and customers for this reason.”

Coburg businesses around Victoria Street Mall say better safety upgrades are needed to revitalise the business precinct. Picture: Himangi Singh

The cafe owner said she had been robbed twice in the past year and witnessed the daylight stabbing.

“We desperately need help,” she said.

Another local Anne, who didn’t want her surname published, said the influx of drugs, homelessness and graffiti on the street was driving people away from the mall.

“The graffiti, it’s so much — it depletes the area and makes the area look rougher than what it is,” she said.

Graffiti around Coburg’s Victoria Street Mall. Picture: Himangi Singh

Mert, who didn’t want his surname published, had lived near the mall for more than two years, and said the area becomes “sketchy” at night because there was no proper lighting on the street.

“Nights are a bit scary. My partner and I walk along here, and if someone’s come up behind, it’s like, what are you going to do? It’s dark. There’s no one around. It’s not well-lit,” he said.

“Better lighting would help, but the council should also invest in a pressure washer and come through once a year to clean.

“It would make the place feel a little less sketchy. More people would be able to come here, and it would better support some of the restaurants opening at night.

“This is a vital community hub for Coburg. It’s a really important area … the council should cherish that instead of neglecting it.”

Merri-bek councillor Angelica Panopoulos will table a motion at the council’s upcoming September meeting, to better support Coburg businesses.

In the motion, Ms Panopoulos will call on the council to discuss “possible short and medium-term interventions” to increase safety and make Victoria Mall “a more inviting space” for the community.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said although crime in Coburg remained below pre-pandemic levels, police still ran regular operations and “highly visible” patrols of the area to detect and deter criminal and anti-social behaviour.

“These operations are regularly conducted at the Victoria Street Mall and include uniform police, local detectives, and specialist police,” she said.

“Besides catching offenders, police are also regularly engaging with the community, including retailers, local council, and businesses”.