A Melbourne chef has made an emotional plea for greater action on crime, after her businesses were broken into seven times in three years.
Award-winning chef Sutinee Suntivatana, known as Tinee, said the repeated break-ins had left her and her husband living in fear, despite spending tens of thousands of dollars on repairs and security.
“Melbourne, are we really going to live like this?” she said.
Tinee is behind multiple popular Melbourne venues including Humble Rays, Tori’s Cafe and Carlton restaurant and co-working space Midday, formerly known as Regale.
In a video posted online after her latest business was broken into and money was stolen, she described the toll it has taken on her.
“I’m just a small business owner trying to make an honest living,” she wrote.
“Like so many others, we work hard, create jobs, support our community, pay our bills, and keep going even when the cost of running a business keeps getting higher.
“But in the past 3–4 years, our businesses have been broken into more than six or seven times.”
She said windows and doors had been damaged and property stolen, with each incident forcing the business to spend more money on repairs and security.
“But how many times are small business owners expected to do this?”
Tinee said she recognised that police were working hard and that crime was a “complicated issue”, but argued that business owners should not have to accept repeated break-ins as part of running a business.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking to feel safe. We are asking for accountability. We are asking for something to change.”
She said she had spent more than $60,000 of her own money over several years repairing damage, replacing stolen items and upgrading security and CCTV systems.
In one incident, a man was filmed kicking in the door of one of her cafes, and he allegedly returned the next day asking for a free coffee.
“Some guy kicked the door in. The next day he came back asking for free coffee. This is last year. I was like, ‘This guy, motherf***er’.”
Tinee, who moved from Bangkok to Melbourne in 2006 as an international student, said she had worked hard to build a life and business in the city.
“I came here in 2006 as an international student. I saved money, have a small business with my husband. I work in the business — I am in the kitchen right now making bagels, doing deliveries, every day.
“We are living in fear. I get phone calls from police at 3am. When I hear the phone I’m straight up. They tell me ‘your shop got smashed’ and we have to drive there at 3am.
“It’s so bad, it makes me paranoid.”
Tinee also said she was concerned about people experiencing homelessness and struggling with the rising cost of living, but believed stronger measures and support were needed.
“I also feel sad for people. I walk my dog in the park and I see people really struggling, living in tents.
“Of course, they might turn to drugs — not everybody can make good decisions. We need tougher laws, we need some help.”
She said the financial losses were not the hardest part of repeatedly dealing with break-ins.
“Money we work so hard to earn ends up going to repairs, security, insurance that keeps getting more expensive every year.”
“But honestly, the money isn’t the hardest part. It’s the stress of never knowing when it will happen again.”
Despite her frustration, Tinee said she still believed in Melbourne and wanted to see the city improve.
“I love Melbourne. I’ve built my life and my businesses here, and I still believe in this city. But something needs to change. Because accepting this as ‘normal’ should never be the answer.”
Image: Instagram
