THERE’S GOING TO BE LIFETIME CONSEQUENCES FOR YOU. – PREMIER CALLS FOR ADULT PUNISHMENTS AFTER YOUNG TEENS ALLEGEDLY LEAVE MELBOURNE GROCERY WORKER IN CRITICAL CONDITION
An Asian grocer employee is fighting for life after an alleged incident with a group of youths.
He had run to the aid of a neighbouring shopkeeper after five teens allegedly tried to steal items including a pair of pants from a neighbouring shop on Hampshire Rd at Sunshine, in Melbourne, about 2pm on Sunday.
The 60-year-old man was allegedly pushed to the ground in a scuffle with the alleged thieves, hitting his head.
He was left fighting for life outside the strip of shops where he had worked for 20 years.
Paramedics took him to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for treatment.
Three boys aged 12, 13 and 15 and two 14-year-old girls were on Sunday charged with a series of assault-related offences after a man was seriously injured in Melbourne’s west.
Four of the teens were arrested nearby, with the 12-year-old later arrested at his home.
All five have been charged with affray, violent disorder, intentionally causing injury and intentionally causing serious injury, and were set to face court on Sunday.
The alleged attack comes amid a rise in violent incidents in shop settings.
Retail violence is up 10.5 per cent in Victoria, following a 29 per cent spike to 7700 cases in 2025, according to data from retail crime intelligence platform Auror.
“Everyone’s scared, everyone’s frightened to come out on the streets, walk the streets alone, especially my staff,” restaurant owner and Sunshine Business Association board member Julie Tran told 7NEWS.
‘There’s going to be lifetime consequences’
Premier Ben Carroll has called for adult punishments for the group of youths.
“I met with the chief commissioner last week and I’ve told him he’ll have every resource he needs to help us tackle violent crime,” he said.
“This was terrible what occurred to this gentleman in a retail shop. There’s no tolerance for this sort of behaviour, it’s awful.
“[It has] lifetime consequences for [the victim], but also for the offenders. There’s going to be lifetime consequences for you, because your life is going to change when you face jail time.”
Days earlier, the freshly minted Premier unveiled new retail worker protection laws.
The laws will grant courts the power to restrict access to workplaces for people who assault, intimidate or stalk workers.
But Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said “Labor’s scheme won’t come into effect until the middle of next year” and said “Labor are not serious about cleaning up the crime crisis in this state.”
As sad locals grapple with the incident which left the “very friendly” 60-year-old critically injured, his shop has been closed with a single sign posted on the door: “The shop will be closed until further notice.”
