A café in Essendon, Melbourne, has shared alarming CCTV footage capturing a woman intentionally striking a waitress in the face with a plate. The incident occurred last Friday around 1pm, leading to the waitress suffering a chipped tooth. La Vallee café posted the video on social media, labelling the action as “abhorrent behaviour” and seeking assistance from the public to identify the individual responsible.
In the footage, the woman, who was wearing sunglasses, can be seen nearing the waitress before abruptly knocking the plates from her hands and continuing to walk calmly down the street. The café expressed its shock at the incident, urging anyone who recognises the woman to reach out via private message. They described the impact on their staff member, stating, “This incident led to one of our beautiful staff members CHIPPING THEIR TOOTH from the plate she pushed into her face.”
The café emphasised its commitment to the local community in Essendon and encouraged social media users to share the post to raise awareness and hold the perpetrator accountable.
Following the incident, numerous online comments emerged, including remarks from Australian billionaire Adrian Portelli, who condemned the behaviour, asserting that it should not be tolerated. Additionally, gforcebjj, a local Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym, offered a free 12-month self-defence membership to the injured waitress, highlighting the community’s support. Another local business, Beauty on Rose, announced intentions to review its security footage to assist in identifying the perpetrator.
The café’s distress over the incident underscores the broader concern regarding violence and mistreatment in public spaces, as they continue to advocate for a safe and respectful environment for both staff and customers.