Violence threatens viability

The owner of one of Albany’s two 24-hour fuel stations fears he will be forced to close his store at night due to growing incidents of violence.

York Street Caltex franchise owner Aaron Triplett said the latest incident, a brawl involving up to a dozen people just before 1am on Sunday morning, was part of a growing trend of antisocial behaviour on his premises.

“I don’t want to have to resort to closing at night but the protection and safety of staff has got to come first,” Mr Triplett said.

“It’s getting harder and harder to get staff to work.”

CCTV captured several males during the brawl engaged in vicious fighting, including one throwing a 20kg bag of firewood and another who repeatedly threw full drink cans at a man’s head.

“That’s 20kg, and if that hit someone in the head… there’s also a huge nail in the bag holding it closed,” Mr Triplett said.

It is understood one offender was arrested and charged by police on the night.

“It’s nothing to have up to 30 people in the shop and it’s the theft that is killing us,” Mr Triplett said.

“We’d have to close it off with no access to the store after 11pm if it keeps going on.”

Mr Triplett only took over the business in March but has already forked out on security upgrades including surveillance cameras, fencing and additional lighting in an effort to deter antisocial behaviour and vandalism.

Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Graham Harvey applauded Albany’s two Caltex operators for providing 24-hour service and condemned antisocial behaviour.

“It would certainly be a shame if the service provided to residents, to motorists and the general community was curtailed because of the dickhead behaviour of a few,” he said.

“Once again it is these typical lowlifes that spoil it for all.”

Mr Harvey said now was a good time for local government to reassess installing CCTV cameras across the broader CBD area.

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