In an incident in Adelaide, a bakery owner suffered injuries after confronting a shoplifter who stole food and drinks from his establishment. The incident occurred around 7 am on a Saturday, when security cameras recorded the thief entering the bakery in daylight, raiding the drinks fridge, and taking a cake before heading for the door.
Ryan Nguyen, the bakery owner, was working alone behind the counter and decided to challenge the thief. He approached the individual and demanded the return of the stolen items, but was met with violence as the thief struck him twice. The confrontation was partially captured on CCTV, showing a chair being thrown before the assailant fled.
As a result of the altercation, Nguyen was left limping and exhibited visible injuries, including pain in his foot. In a reflection of the community’s sentiment, customer Rhea Lesurf expressed her concern for Nguyen’s well-being, emphasising that no one should be harmed during such incidents.
Despite the pain and trauma he experienced, Nguyen affirmed that he would not shy away from confronting a shoplifter in the future, although he acknowledged that he would likely contact the police first next time. He expressed a concern that if thefts went unchallenged, they could escalate, leading to more significant crimes, such as stolen money.
Authorities have confirmed that they are investigating the incident further.