An award-winning chef is expressing frustration and fear following multiple burglaries at her Melbourne hospitality businesses, calling for greater action to address rising crime.
Sutinee Suntivatana, who operates establishments like Humble Rays Café and Tori's Artisan Bakery and Matcha Bar with her husband, reported that her venues have been broken into seven times. The latest incident occurred in August at her Niagara Lane bakery.
CCTV footage from the August break-in shows an individual in a balaclava kicking down the bakery's front door before entering and taking items from the counter. The shop's display windows were also shattered.
"It was particularly upsetting because it was the first break-in at that location," Suntivatana told the Daily Mail. "Unfortunately, it has become something we almost expect rather than something that shocks us anymore."
Suntivatana stated that she has lived in Melbourne for approximately 20 years and still loves the city, but emphasized that feeling safe should not be a privilege for business owners and their employees.
Her experience reflects broader concerns about crime in Victoria. According to the Crime Statistics Agency, 625,426 offenses were recorded in the state in the 12 months leading up to March 2026. Retail thefts alone increased by 11.7 percent in the same period, with over 20,000 incidents reported.
The repeated break-ins have also impacted Suntivatana's staff, some of whom work early mornings or late evenings. "Incidents like these naturally make them feel less safe," she said. "We have also had a serious incident where a staff member was injured during an incident at one of our venues."
Suntivatana has invested thousands of dollars in security upgrades, including enhanced CCTV systems, alarms, and locks, in addition to covering costs for insurance, repairs, and business disruption. "It helps, but unfortunately it cannot completely prevent someone who is determined to break in," she noted.
She expressed a desire to focus more energy on improving her businesses and creating jobs rather than on security concerns. Suntivatana called for increased visible policing and security presence in areas prone to repeat offenses, along with stronger prevention measures, faster responses to repeat offenders, and better support for small businesses affected by crime.
"We can install cameras, stronger doors and better alarms, but there is a limit to what we can do," Suntivatana said. "We simply want our staff to come to work safely, our customers to feel safe, and our businesses to be able to operate 24/7 without constantly worrying about the next incident."