Delhi Nights restaurant on Ferris Rd in Cobblebank ram raided, owner fears deliberate attack

A restaurant owner fears his business was deliberately targeted after thieves smashed into one of his Indian eateries for the second time in three months. See the shocking footage.

A restaurant owner fears his business was deliberately targeted after thieves ram raided one of his Indian eateries for the second time in three months.

Delhi Nights on Ferris Rd in Cobblebank was attacked in the early hours of Sunday when two unknown men smashed through the front window before breaking in.

CCTV footage obtained by the Herald Sun shows a silver car reversing into the glass, shattering it, before two men enter the restaurant.

Delhi Nights restaurant on Ferris Rd in Cobblebank ram raided. Picture: Supplied.

The men, wearing hooded jumpers, sprint to the counter before rummage through drawers and eventually grab the till and flee the scene.

Delhi Nights owner Ramesh Kashyap said his staff alerted him to the break-in after discovering the restaurant’s glass window shattered.

“When I first heard, I thought maybe someone accidentally backed into the window. I didn’t immediately think it was a robbery,” Mr Kashyap said.

It wasn’t until he reviewed CCTV footage that the extent of the crime became clear.

The thieves made off with the restaurant’s locked till, but their efforts were largely in vain — inside was just $250 cash, kept for change.

Mr Kashyap said the robbers may have thought they hit the jackpot but instead just caused unnecessary damage.

Thieves stole the till, which had about $250 kept in cash at Delhi Nights restaurant. Picture: Supplied.

This isn’t the first time one of his restaurants has been targeted.

Delhi Nights’ Hoppers Crossing branch was robbed in October last year.

Point Cook’s Mr Kashyap said he and his wife and co-owner Emanda were devastated by the latest attack.

“We’re very upset, mainly because we left India and came to Australia hoping for a better future,” he said.

Mr Kashyap said he believed Delhi Nights was deliberately targeted because it is an Indian restaurant.

Delhi Nights restaurant’s front glass window shattered after attack. Picture: Supplied.

“There are so many other shops, but they chose the one that is clearly Indian,” he said.

“It feels like we are being targeted, especially because this is the second time Delhi Nights has been attacked.”

Mr Kashyap said the restaurant staff are fearful for their safety.

“They are really scared, especially because we close late — sometimes after 1am. We’re lucky no one was inside when this happened,” he said.“ I’m planning to speak with the shopping centre about installing bollards to prevent something worse in the future.”

Despite the setbacks, Mr Kashyap remains determined to continue his work.

“These things, though unfortunate, are just small bumps on the road,” he said.

“I’ve been doing this all my life, and the community loves our food and service. This won’t stop us from serving the community.”

A Victoria Police spokesman said Melton Crime Investigation Unit detectives were investigating the ram-raid.

Anyone with information or footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at here.