A Kiwi-Indian entrepreneur in Auckland is wondering “how much more we need to suffer” after his neighbourhood store became the latest small business to fall victim to a ram raid.
The owner of Ash’s Superette in Henderson wishes not to be named, but is quite forthcoming when narrating his harrowing tale. Robbers rammed their car into the garage door of his shop in West Auckland early on April 11, 2023, and took off with items from the store.
"I am just so shocked as I never thought something like this could happen to me or my shop. We got a call from the security company when the alarm went off. Despite having roller garage doors, ram raiders, reportedly in the age group of 14 to 16 years, smashed their way into my shop at about 4am, leaving us damages to the tune of NZ$30,000-40,000," says the 27-year-old owner, who bought the 40-year-old shop a year back.
The police’s media team spokesperson told The Indian Weekender officers were rushed to the Bruce McLaren Rd superette just after 4.30am. “It appears offenders have used a vehicle to gain entry to the store. A number of items were taken before the offenders left in the same vehicle, which was later found dumped nearby. Police investigations are continuing,” the spokesperson said.
The shop owner, who has lived in New Zealand for nearly 11 years, says increasing crime is making business owners like him feel helpless. "The police need to get more power, else business owners will continue to suffer. This Labour government is encouraging crime rather than taking strict steps to curb it. I don't know how much more we need to suffer. This is not the New Zealand we want…where there is a constant fear of being burgled, robbed or ram-raided," he says.
He says the ram raid has made his wife, brother and parents anxious, and they are now urging him to quit the business. "My family is reeling from the shock. They have even told me to check if I can sell the shop and look for an alternative job because they are too scared for my safety. But it is not easy to shut the business, and I have a family to look after. You can't just close the shop," he says.
Ram raids and robberies have become a pain point among small business owners, many of them Kiwi Indians. New Police Minister Ginny Andersen recently told The Indian Weekender tackling ram raids was among her top priorities.