AFTER opening The Curry Club in Wonthaggi just three months ago, owner Surdeep Singh says the State Government must act immediately to reduce crime and that increased police presence is needed, after the business suffered its second break-in early on Saturday morning.
The culprit hit about 4.45am and while unable to find anything of value, damaged doors and the ceiling, with Surdeep estimating repairs will cost at least $10,000, with the incident captured on security cameras.
“Somebody has to put the foot down and do something, otherwise more and more people are going to do it,” he said of the consequences of inaction on crime.
He expressed dismay at the impact on the business and personally.
“I spent my savings to make something nice in Wonthaggi; it’s disrespectful of people to come in and smash everything up when I’m trying to make an honest living and be part of the community,” Surdeep said.
“It’s sad and it puts my morale down.”
The single offender captured in video footage broke the back door and two other doors.
“He couldn’t break the fourth door, so he decided to go to the ceiling and jump inside from the roof top,” Surdeep said, with plasterboard broken in the process and the roof damaged in two places.
The previous break-in cost about $5000 for a couple of vandalised doors.
Even if insurance covers the cost, it will drive up the premiums the business pays.
Surdeep said the government needs to be asked, “Why is it happening?”
While disheartened by the damage to his premises, the business owner expressed his appreciation for the support from the thousands of people who have already eaten at his restaurant.
An attempt was also made to force entry into nearby business, Ronni’s Restaurant, but the perpetrator failed to do so, the effort damaging a door.
“An offender has forced entry into The Curry Club and caused damage inside the premise,” a spokesperson for Bass Coast CIU stated, noting they are also aware of an attempted forced entry at a nearby restaurant.
“Police are appealing to the public for anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area, or who have
information, including dash cam footage.”
Police noted that incidents over the last couple of months in Wonthaggi are unrelated to the break-in at The Curry Club, with an offender already processed for those crimes.
Mr Singh’s sentiments on action have been echoed by Eastern Victoria MP, Renee Heath, who challenged Premier Jacinta in Parliament last week to follow expert advice and adopt the Liberal Nationals’ evidence-based bail reforms, which mirror the approach successfully taken in New Zealand to cut youth crime.
According to Ms Heath, New Zealand has reduced ramraids by 60 per cent through tougher policing, instant fines and stricter bail enforcement which follows reforms the opposition have been calling for in Victoria.
“A mother asked me how the government could let crime spiral out of control so much that her 16-year-old daughter has to wear a body cam when working on the checkouts,” Ms Heath told Parliament.
Ms Heath and Mr Singh’s calls for action have been echoed by thousands of Victorians fed up with the government tinkering around the edges of dealing with escalating crime.
Fox FM radio hosts Fifi Box and Brendan Fevola launched a petition for tougher bail laws which gathered over 120,000 signatures, while a Herald Sun “Three Strikes on Bail, Go to Jail” petition attracted more than 4000 signatures.
Anyone with information regarding the forced entry to either The Curry Club or Ronni’s Restaurant are urged to contact Bass Coast CIU on 5671 4100 or make an anonymous report at Crimestoppers.
