Grocery store industry pleads for action on youth crime after spate of violent attacks

The grocery store industry has called on governments to take action against youth crime, with staff and their families living in fear after a rise in “disturbing” violent robberies.

The grocery store industry has called on governments to take action against youth crime as its workers increasingly come under attack.

There has been a wave of violent robberies in Melbourne recently, mostly by gangs trying to steal tobacco products to feed the lucrative illicit smoke market.

Master Grocers Australia chief executive officer David Inall said Melbourne was the epicentre for a crime pattern which had left store owners, staff and their families living in fear.

Mr Inall said there has been an escalation in crime and a higher degree of violence in those offences.

“This simply cannot continue. Enough is enough,” he said.

“Communities are living in fear. Violence against innocent staff is not something we ever expect to see in Australia, and quite frankly, this should have been addressed by now.

“Many of these cowardly attacks are targeting tobacco, with stolen goods then being pushed into the illegal tobacco market. Our members, through this organisation, have been ringing the alarm bell around illegal tobacco for the last eight years since 2016.”

CCTV captured these two hooded men entering a Glen Waverley bottle shop before assaulting a worker. Picture: Victoria Police

A number of the recent incidents in Melbourne have involved the use of machetes and assaults against staff.

On Sunday, a worker suffered what were described by police as “life-changing” injuries by hammer-wielding bandits who hit a Glen Waverley store.

Mr Inall said a disturbing element in the more recent incidents was the use of violence even against staff who were complying with demands.

“Speaking with staff and store owners who were brutalised this past weekend, the message is clear: they are tired and, quite frankly, expect more from government,” he said.

“These robberies do not just impact the staff who are on duty at the time. Their families are fearful while their children and siblings are at work. Everyone is affected.”

Mr Inall said police were doing what they could with the resources they had available.

“But we need to see significantly more resources allocated to tackle youth crime, with a substantial tightening of bail conditions and tougher penalties,” Mr Inall said.

Mr Inall said the Federal Government had allocated $188.5 million towards cross-jurisdictional task forces to fight illegal tobacco but nothing had happened yet.

The MGA has 2500 members who run independent grocers and bottle shops nationwide.