Council flags are flying at half-mast in honour of a good Samaritan who died days after he was allegedly attacked by shoplifting youths outside a Melbourne shopping strip. The Hồng Hưng Asian Grocery store owner was taken to hospital but died on Wednesday afternoon, police confirmed on Thursday. Traders have long called for help from the council and state government in addressing rising antisocial behaviour, crime and mental health concerns. The Laverton MP, Sarah Connolly, and the new police minister, Paul Edbrooke, met traders on Wednesday to hear traders’ concerns. The council will continue to lobby the state government for a sustained increase in police numbers, Tachos said.