'Freaked out': Melbourne café owner hit with death threat and vandalism

The owner of a small business in Melbourne's north has been given a death threat and his café has been vandalised in what is believed to be a politically-motivated attack.

A brick was thrown through the window of Thornbury's Briki Cafe on Hutton Street overnight and a threatening note was taped to the door, saying, "Do what Dan Andrews says and we will burn down your shop and kill you".

Owner Simos Kandias found the note and the mess when he arrived at his café this morning.

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Mr Kandias told 9News he was still in shock hours later.

"I freaked out," he said.

"Was it just a threat? Will they follow through?

"Are there people coming tonight to finish the job?"

Mr Kandias said he couldn't think of a reason his business was targeted - he has never made a political statement and follows COVID-19 restrictions as most businesses are.

He and his five part-time staff are fully vaccinated.

On Sunday morning a man was caught on CCTV taking a brick to two other Thornbury hospitality businesses - GRK Greek Kitchen and Bar and the Thornbury Taphouse.

GRK Kitchen and Bar's Effie Stratkis said the action against small businesses wasn't fair.

"We don't make the rules we just follow them, so it's a shame to take it out on a small business," she said.

Police are investigating whether the attacks are linked.