The trio fled in a black sedan before police arrived, with officers confirming police are investigating the assault and criminal damage incident.
Despite the chaos, Homer and his team stayed behind to clean up and reopen the store the next day.
Homer describes the attack that happened inside his supermarket.Credit: Nine News
Homer said his family business was already struggling due to ongoing theft and violence at the centre, adding there’s been little improvement since the introduction of the government’s new bail reforms.
“.… People get caught in the morning, and they are out in the afternoon,” he said. “These criminals just come back”
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Since a machete brawl inside the centre in May that triggered a full lockdown and sent panicked shoppers running, Homer said sales have plunged.
“We are just all barely surviving,” he said. “Since May, every day it could be an incident.”
Despite feeling unsafe, Homer said he has no choice but to keep going.
“[I’m] just very upset, but I need to keep going for my family … my family is my main path, I will do anything for them.”
In a statement, Northland Shopping Centre confirmed security responded to the incident, but the teens fled before they arrived. The centre also disputed some of the details.
“I would like to clarify that we are not aware of any information suggesting that the alleged offenders were armed with machetes,” the centre said in a statement.
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