By Andy McMartin
Criminals are being stopped in their tracks thanks to new crime-fighting technology that literally leaves them blind.
Known as fog cannons, their effectiveness has sent two would-be Auckland thieves running.
Armed with an axe and a hammer, two men hack at the door of a south Auckland petrol station while the attendant inside watches in horror.
But unbeknown to the criminals a newly- installed fog cannon is about to prove its worth.
The incident is the third at the service station in the last six months, and it is also the latest in a string of smash and grabs in Counties Manukau. Most of which are thought to be carried out by the same group.
Worryingly, police say the offenders are becoming more dangerous, and two of the last three incidents have ended in violence.
Filling a medium sized room, in around 40 seconds the fog cannons release harmless food- grade oil known as glycol, which creates a thick fog when forced through a heated element.
The device can be triggered manually and stops criminals dead in their tracks.
A small unit costs around $3000 plus installation. And with more and more business installing the devices, it's hoped criminals will see their plans go up in smoke.
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