Police were called to Toppers Cafe in Hargreaves Mall at 10am on Wednesday morning after the man damaged the cafe's bain-marie.

Toppers Cafe manager Shavers Verma said it was the first time such an incident had occurred.

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"He just came in and asked for the food," she said. "I asked for the money and (he didn't) have any money, so he just smashed the (counter).

"He was already gone when the police came.

"Usually, I know a lot of people that come here. But he was a new person, I had never seen him before."

Ms Verma said she gave CCTV footage of the incident to police.

Police have confirmed an investigation is ongoing.

Ms Verma said it could take up to a week to repair the bain-marie leaving the cafe with no hot food display.

"There is no point even opening the shop for the whole day. It's ruined the whole day for us and is not even a couple of minutes for him," she said.

"We have really have no idea (how long repairs will take) because we have to order new glass. It will take one week to come because it's coming from Melbourne.

"We have to see what we can do (in the meantime)."

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