Melbourne restaurant owner fights off machete-wielding thief with a chair

In Melbourne, Australia, restaurant owner Hari Soni confronted an armed thief attempting to break into his car parked behind his Spice Mix Restaurant on Tuesday night. Soni grabbed a chair to defend himself and engaged in a physical altercation with the thief, who was armed with a machete. Although Soni was not injured, the incident left him traumatized. He has called for more police presence in the area due to a recent rise in crime, emphasizing the need for community safety and support.

Melbourne restaurant owner fights off machete-wielding thief with a chair
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society Published Aug 5, 2026

Topic overview

In brief

  • Hari Soni noticed a thief breaking into his car parked behind his restaurant.
  • He confronted the thief with a chair, leading to a physical altercation.
  • Soni's bravery highlights the need for increased police patrols in the area.

Summary

In Australia, a restaurant owner named Hari Soni faced a terrifying situation when he encountered an armed thief attempting to break into his vehicle. This incident occurred on Tuesday night around 8 PM outside his Spice Mix Restaurant located in Brunswick East, a suburb of Melbourne. Soni, upon noticing the thief breaking into his hatchback parked behind the restaurant, quickly grabbed a chair to defend himself and rushed outside to confront the intruder. The confrontation was captured on CCTV, showing the would-be thief initially stunned by Soni's unexpected defense.

As the altercation escalated, the thief attempted to attack Soni multiple times, brandishing a machete and lunging at him. Soni recounted the fear he felt during the encounter, particularly thinking about his family and the potential consequences of the situation. Despite the threat posed by the machete, Soni managed to stand his ground, and the thief ultimately fled the scene empty-handed. Fortunately, Soni was not physically harmed during the incident, but he expressed that the experience left him traumatized and unable to sleep that night.

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Updated Aug 5, 2026

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