Australian comedy group Sooshi Mango is urging the Victorian government to implement stricter laws in response to an alleged break-in at their Melbourne office. The incident occurred around 19:00 on Sunday, when an unidentified man reportedly damaged the door to gain entry to their workplace on Drummond Street in Carlton.
Brothers Carlo and Joe Salanitri, along with Andrew Manfre, shared CCTV footage of the incident with their millions of followers on social media the following morning. Their aim was to identify the individual responsible for the break-in. “Due to the platform we have, we were able to get something out there in a large way, but some of these small businesses don’t have that,” Carlo explained to reporters. “We just thought we’d do our part to get this guy off the streets however we thought we could.”
According to Victoria Police, it remains uncertain if any items were stolen during the incident. “We’re Italians, we don’t hide our cash anywhere that’s obvious,” Carlo remarked, reflecting on their cultural approach to handling money.
Crime Concerns in Victoria
Crime statistics for 2025 present a troubling outlook for Victoria, leading Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to label Melbourne as the “crime capital of Australia.” In their video statement, Sooshi Mango criticized the audacity of criminals, stating, “these rats think they can go around stealing … and get away with it.” They further argued that “perhaps if Victoria had stricter laws, these filthy rotten leeches wouldn’t have the confidence to go around breaking into places in broad daylight.”
Joe added that the community is “feeling a bit unsafe” and emphasized the need for stronger legislation to deter crime. Manfre expressed concern, stating, “we’re a little disturbed” and called for “harsher penalties,” asserting that it is essential to regain control over escalating crime rates.
In response to increasing public concern, Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll stated that the state is actively investing in police resources and had recently enacted reforms related to bail and knife crime. “We want to have a zero-tolerance approach to crime,” Carroll declared. He acknowledged the ongoing challenges, adding, “We always know we’ve got more work to do and we won’t stop until all Victorians feel safe and know they’re safe as well.”
Ongoing Investigation
Sooshi Mango gained prominence through their humorous social media videos that portray the experiences of growing up in an Italian family. As of now, no arrests have been made regarding the break-in, and the police investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The call for tougher crime laws by Sooshi Mango highlights a growing sentiment among residents of Melbourne, who are increasingly concerned about safety and security in their communities.
