The 43-year-old local man allegedly threatened outside Coles told The Coast Report how the confrontation unfolded.
He said he was shopping at Coles Ballina Central at about 1.45pm when he saw a man placing multiple items inside his jacket.
He confronted the man and directed him outside, where the man allegedly produced what the victim described as a hunting knife about 20cm long and threatened him before fleeing.
The man was described as being about 178cm tall, with medium-length brown hair.
“He had a tan-coloured sherpa jacket on with tan pants,” the victim said.
The victim said the man was also wearing a beanie and sunglasses.
E-Bike Machete attack
Sunday night at 8pm Emergency services responded to a serious incident on River Street, near Woolworths.
Police were informed a 22-year-old man was approached by two males riding an E-bike.
After a brief discussion, the passenger allegedly produced a machete and struck the man on the lower right leg.
Both males left on the e-bike and were last seen travelling west along Cherry Street.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man for a laceration to his lower right leg before taking him to Lismore Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Knife-scanning operation held days earlier
Sunday’s incidents came three days after Richmond Police District concluded a two-day shoplifting and knife-scanning operation that included Ballina shopping precincts.
Police said Richmond Police District regularly conducts high-visibility and plain-clothes operations targeting shoplifting, antisocial behaviour and weapon-related offences, with similar operations to continue across the district.
“Ballina is disgusting and unsafe these days,” the 43-year-old said.
“I would hate to be elderly or vulnerable.”
Police have commenced investigations into both incidents.
Anyone with information about either incident, including relevant dashcam or mobile-phone footage, can contact Ballina Police Station on (02) 6681 8699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.