Disgusting: Shane Bleazby with the graffiti. Picture: Tommy Ritchie 53973
Erin Pearson
RACIST graffiti has terrified the new owners of an Asian grocery store at Corio, according to an angry neighbour.
Shane Bleazby said he was “fed up” with the violent threats scrawled on the store’s Detroit Crescent shopping strip and an adjacent toilet block.
Mr Bleazby said the graffiti had “petrified” the store owners, who had young children.
The couple took over the store two months ago, he said.
Mr Bleazby believed the intent of the graffiti went beyond “childish vandalism and drunken idiots”.
“The graffiti here has never ever been racial before – it’s only since the new store owners moved in,” he said.
“These people don’t need to be terrified by this. They’re trying to make their biggest effort to integrate into the community and work so hard.
“I’m still seeing red.”
Mr Bleazby said he had contacted police about the graffiti “multiple” times, stressing the shop owners needed protection, but uniformed officers had failed to attend.
“I know the police have a hard job but they’ve got to realise there is a human element here – innocent people are being vilified.
“I went over to speak to the young mother who works there and she was petrified.”
Mr Bleazby said he tried to assure the owners the graffiti was only the work of a few bad apples.
“Because of where we are it’s a low-rent area, very working class, but I told the family not all of us are like that (racist).
“It’s an old-fashion neighbourhood and can’t tolerate this.”
Corio Police Sergeant Darren Savickas said the station had no record of complaints about the graffiti.
Police from the station would investigate if they received complaints, Sgt Savickas said.
A City of Greater Geelong spokesman said the City’s graffiti hotline had no record of reports about the Detroit Crescent attacks.
However, City staff would check the site as soon as possible to remove any graffiti.
The spokesman said anyone who wanted to report graffiti should phone the hotline on 5272 4319.
City staff would investigate all reports, the spokesman said.
