Melbourne’s Falastini Food Truck Was Stolen in Preston Early This Morning

Update: the Falastini food truck was found by owner Rahaf Al Khatib in Corio on the evening of Tuesday December 10.

Chef Rahaf Al Khatib’s beloved Palestinian food truck, Falastini, was stolen from its home outside Pony Club Gym in Preston early this morning. “It all happened in a matter of minutes,” Al Khatib, who is set to open a bricks-and-mortar venue next year, tells Broadsheet.

CCTV footage taken from Pony Club Gym shows the theft took less than two minutes and began at 1.19am. Al Khatib says the food truck was taken with equipment – including iPads, combi ovens, fridges and stock – inside. She believes the thieves targeted the truck so they could resell the gear.

“It looks like they managed to come in really organised with a lock cutter to cut the lock on the towbar so that they could tow… They also brought a drill so they could lift it up and attach it to their vehicle.”

The incident has already taken a profound toll on Rahaf and the team. “Even if you forget about the business for a second, think about who the business employs. I have a team and we can’t support and pay these people if we don’t have a space to operate out of.”

Al Khatib says the best way to support the business right now is to continue sharing social media posts about the incident to help find the truck.

“I just want my food truck back. This venture is a grassroots business, and the money came from my mother’s inheritance. This is her desire. This is her wish. This is what she wanted for us: to have a community, a cultural centre for Palestinians to be able to display our art, and that’s where the hurt comes from in all of this.”

You can continue to support Falastini financially by buying vouchers, booking catering from Falastini and keeping an eye out for upcoming cooking class announcements.

“I have had my cry, but ultimately, this is an expression of my culture, and I’m privileged to be able to do that here,” she adds.

@falastini.foodtruck