While ram-raids and burglaries have become routine in Auckland, there has been a sharp rise in similar occurrences in Greater Christchurch, with more than six reported in the last month.
On 26 May, a dairy in Prebbleton, Selwyn district, was broken-in for the third time in approximately one month. Police were called at 3.30 am after owner Sangeet Mehta was awakened by loud noises as a stolen car slammed through the shop's front door.
Mehta's shop was the target of a similar ram-raid incident on 27 April and again on 7 May when 3 to 4 burglars broke the window with a hammer and entered the establishment.
While on the first two instances, some vaping materials was stolen, on the third occasion, intruders escaped with lollies, chips and drinks.
Mehta says that the intruders look to be teenage school kids from the CCTV footage. One of the youths, he said, appeared to be as young as ten years old and could barely reach the counter.
Mehta was alerted by some customers that a video was circulating on social media where offenders had recorded the act. He told the police about the same, and the investigations are still ongoing.
While the police are assuring the community that they are making thorough enquiries, Mehta is not very satisfied with the approach and feels that more should be done to dissuade offenders and to make them understand the consequences of their actions.
Mehta has worked in the place for the last seven years and lives with his wife and 15-year-old son in the same premises just a few feet away from the shop area.
"It was scary to go through this for the third time, and I'm genuinely afraid about the safety of my family," Mehta told Indian Weekender. "Aside from the financial loss, the entire family is going through a lot of mental turmoil."
Outside the shop, Mehta has now erected safety bollards and is having the door repaired. He appreciates his customers and the surrounding community, which has been quite supportive. Money has been raised for Mehta at a local Prebbleton school. Even the people who put up the safety bollards didn't charge Mehta for their time.
Similar incidents have been reported recently in various commercial premises in Lincoln, Hornby, Halswell and Huntsbury also, in just over the past two months.
Mehta wants the small business owners to hand together so that when an unfortunate incident like this occurs and they need to contact the police or authorities for help, they would be treated more seriously.