CBD traders attacked, while thieves steal items in new CCTV footage

More disturbing CCTV footage has emerged of a thug brazenly stealing an eftpos machine from a business in Melbourne’s CBD, as leading industry groups call for “urgent action” to tackle the city’s crime scourge.

More dramatic footage has emerged of a thug brazenly stealing an eftpos machine from a take away business in Melbourne’s CBD, as leading industry groups call for “urgent action” to tackle the city’s crime scourge.

On Saturday morning one Elizabeth St trader was shocked when his business was targeted for the third time in less than two weeks.

The incident at the busy fast food outlet was captured on CCTV, showing a thief stealing an Eftpos machine.

It comes just a day after a major Sunday Herald Sun investigation revealed traumatised traders and city workers were “fearful” of going to work as drug-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour played out on the streets.

In another video, captured in recent months, a Degraves St business owner is kicked by a drug-affected man, while a customer is also assaulted.

Visnu, who owns a take away outlet on Elizabeth St, said his business had been targeted by thieves three times in the past two weeks.

Elizabeth St business targeted by thieves for third time in less than two weeks.

“We’ve had three eftpos machines stolen in a matter of weeks,” he said.

“The thieves think they can put their own cards into the machine and refund money, but it’s not possible.

“It’s really hurt our business – it’s another cost that we have to worry about.

“We are sick and tired of the crime on Elizabeth St.”

Johnny Sandish, who owns Xpressomondo on Degraves St, said he was attacked earlier this year by a man who appeared to be drug-affected.

“He walked past my business and kicked me and threw a chair at me,” Mr Sandish said.

“The man also assaulted a customer, it was very scary as he was erratic.”

CCTV footage from a business in Degraves Street shows a customer and worker being verbally and physically assaulted . Supplied

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said anyone who has spent time in Melbourne post-Covid has found a city that has been taken over by homeless people and drug addicts.

“It’s a place to avoid rather than spend time exploring,” Mr Lang said.

“What local business owners want to see is urgent action from the state government and the City of Melbourne to restore the city to its former status.

“That starts with effective mental health policy to help those in desperate need of support, investment in drug rehabilitation centres to help those suffering on the streets and extra policing to keep both the public and business owners safe.”

Australian Retailers Association chief industry affairs officer Fleur Brown said retail crime has been an ongoing issue within Melbourne’s CBD.

“Retail crime is a nationwide challenge for retailers this year and in particular CBDs are often experiencing that more intensely,” Ms Brown said.

“The top concern that we are hearing from retailers is that their staff are apprehensive, in some cases abused and assaulted and that’s not great for retail.

“We are holding a retail crime symposium in Melbourne next month to discuss these key issues.”

Ratepayer group Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said the City of Melbourne needed to restore the area.

“The council needs to focus urgently on cleaning up the CBD and making it a great place to experience,” he said.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said anti-social behaviour was unacceptable.

“The City of Melbourne’s on-street safety team does everything within its scope to maintain public safety, however ultimately long-term safety strategy and outreach services are primarily the responsibility of the State Government and Victoria Police,” Cr Capp said.

“These are enduring issues and require urgent intervention from the State Government and Victoria Police. “

The CBD’s issues have also been widely publicised – and condemned – on dedicated social media pages.

One Instagram page, who has dubbed the city as ‘Hellbourne’, continues to share confronting and worrying incidents of drug-affected and drunk people to their 24,000 followers.

Earlier this year, protective services officers in February shot a man after he allegedly threatened them with a smashed glass bottle in an incident that sent part of the city into lockdown.

Months earlier, accused killer driver Zain Khan allegedly mowed down three pedestrians along Bourke St, killing an elderly man.