An Auckland dairy has become the fifth Tamaki store in two days, with business owners and community leaders fearing crime is on the rise again.
Three young people were referred to Youth Aid on Friday after a ram raid on a Kohimarama dairy.
According to the police, the helicopter followed the youths after they left the building. Their vehicle was scratched and they were arrested.
Meanwhile, four takeaways and restaurants have been broken into by hammer-wielding attackers.
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At Meadowbank’s Portofino Restaurant, a hammer was thrown through the glass entrance and alcohol was stolen.
Goran Stevoski, the son of the owners, was left to pick up the pieces because his parents were on vacation.
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
Rebecca Alexander owns About Time in Remuera, Auckland
He said he would not claim insurance because the premiums are “just too high”.
The restaurant was already struggling with rising food prices and Stevoski said the break-in was “devastating”.
Cliff Grill in St. Heliers was broken into using the same method of entry. Immediately afterwards, a neighboring takeout shop was attacked.
“I can’t believe it’s getting worse, even walking down the street here feels unsafe,” said owner Jason Li.
Nathan Morton / Stuff
Goran Stevoski, son of the owners of Portofino Restaurant, will not claim insurance because the premiums are “just too high”.
“Entrepreneurs don’t feel security at the moment.”
Tamaki was one of the first parts of Auckland to be hit by a wave of ram raids, with a dozen companies aimed at the end of 2021.
Official information law data showed that the number of ram raids in the city is now falling after 254 carried out in the past six months.
Tamaki MP Simon O’Connor said there had been a lull in crime in his area in recent months, but he feared a new spike could begin.
Nathan Morton / Stuff
Tamaki was one of the first parts of Auckland to be hit by a spate of ram raids, with a dozen businesses targeted by the end of 2021.
“There is concern about antisocial behavior, but also about the fact that more young people are involved,” he said.
“We see the link with truancy — these kids aren’t in school and things like this are the result.”
Noel Leeming at the Botany Town Center in East Auckland got rammed last weekwhile the owner of a dairy farm in Belmont spent the night crying after his shop was attacked the week before.
On Monday, a watch shop in Remuera was targeted for the second time in two months.
Owner Rebecca Alexander was on the phone with her husband at the store when she heard a crackling and screaming over the line.
Three youths had attempted to ram their 13mm thick glass entrance with a vehicle. One grabbed a big ax and stuck the knife in the door, she said.
A neighboring store owner chased an assailant with a machete, but the three managed to escape in a getaway car.
“It was scary and violent,” Alexander said.