Police have significantly increased patrols in Melbourne’s western suburbs following the alleged severe assault of a local grocery store owner, Van Viet Truong, 60. Mr. Truong was reportedly left in critical condition after intervening in an attempted robbery on Saturday afternoon in Sunshine.
Grocer Hospitalized After Heroic Intervention
The incident unfolded on Hampshire Road when a group of five youths allegedly attempted to rob a store adjacent to Hong Hung Asian Grocery. According to police accounts, Mr. Truong, the owner of the grocery store, came to the aid of a fellow retail worker. The youths then allegedly turned their attention to Mr. Truong, subjecting him to a violent assault before fleeing the scene. He was subsequently transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he remains in a critical state.
The five individuals apprehended in connection with the assault have been identified as three boys, aged 12, 13, and 15, and two girls, both 14 years old. They have collectively been charged with multiple offenses, including affray, violent disorder, intentionally causing serious injury, and intentionally causing injury.
Community Outcry and Calls for Increased Safety
The brutal attack on Mr. Truong has ignited widespread concern among local business owners and community leaders, who are demanding greater police action to ensure public safety. In a joint statement, five mayors from Melbourne’s western suburbs urged the government to increase police presence and extend the operating hours of local police stations, which have reportedly faced reduced hours and rolling closures.
Brimbank Mayor Virginia Tachos emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We need the Government to act now with more police protecting our businesses, residents and streets.”
Police Response: Enhanced Patrols and Strategic Deployment
In response to the community’s concerns and the gravity of the incident, Acting Commander Troy Papworth expressed his sympathy for Mr. Truong and announced an immediate increase in police patrols across the western suburbs, operating on a 24/7 basis. “The recent alleged incident in Sunshine has no doubt had a ripple effect through the entire community and has caused angst and concern in Melbourne’s west,” Papworth stated. “Police feel these concerns as well — we are as much a part of the community ourselves.”
The boosted police presence will be particularly noticeable in Sunshine and Footscray, as well as throughout the Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Wyndham, Brimbank, and Melton council areas. Addressing the community’s apprehension regarding the reduced opening hours of some local police stations, Papworth clarified that this strategic shift is designed to maximize frontline police visibility and response capabilities.
“There’s police working from those police stations night and day but our chief commissioner is focused highly on more street and less station,” he explained. “Frontline patrols in the community have remained completely unimpacted, and have actually been enhanced by these public counter revisions.” Papworth further elaborated that concentrating officers on street patrols allows them to proactively prevent crime and swiftly apprehend offenders, rather than being stationed behind public counters during typically low-traffic periods.
A Beloved Community Figure Facing Recovery
As Mr. Truong remains in hospital, relatives are reportedly traveling from Vietnam to be with him. Those who know him have described him as an exceptionally kind and friendly individual, known for his excellent customer service at Hong Hung Asian Grocery, which he has operated with his wife for nearly three decades. The store has temporarily closed its doors during his hospitalization.
Mr. Truong was an active participant in the local business community. Just days before the assault, he had collaborated with fellow business owners and local Member of Parliament Sarah Connolly to launch a new business mentoring program. It is understood that Mr. Truong had been contemplating retirement and had previously listed the grocery store for sale.
The five teenagers charged in connection with the incident are scheduled to appear in court again at a later date.
