The owner of an Auckland liquor store hit by ram-raiders is celebrating the effectiveness of bollards installed in front of his shop.
Auckland Transport (AT) has approved and completed 18 applications for bollard installations in the past two years.
But as ram raids trend down, violence against retailers is going up.
The Ōrākei Fine Wines & Spirits shop was looking a lot finer on Wednesday compared to a year ago when it was ram-raided late at night.
"Now it's much better, it's much safer, I feel. There's a new shutter, there's bollards," said Sandeep, manager of Ōrākei Fine Wines & Spirits.
Bollards which weren't there when the store was first hit.
AT oversees bollard installations, and this store waited months for approval.
It was worth it in the end because they haven't been targeted since.
"I think when the robbers see the bollards in front of the shop, it might deter their mind," Sandeep told Newshub.
"Obviously this helps."
But not all stores share their good fortune - four youths targeted Te Atatū Discount Superette across town on Saturday.
But police retail crime data shows ram-raids are trending down, after peaking earlier this year.
However, acts intended to cause injury, such as assaults, are increasing.
On Sunday, a worker at the Birkenhead Bottle-O liquor store was taken to hospital after being attacked by armed robbers.
Police data published this month shows there have been more than 100,000 theft incidents from retail stores in the past 12 months.
"It's good that bollards are there and that may help with ram-raids, but that doesn't stop an individual from walking into the shop and [harming] your fellow New Zealanders," said Jithin Chittibomma, chair of the Sandringham Business Association.
He told Newshub he's still haunted by the fatal stabbing of local dairy worker Janak Patel in 2022.
"What is it we are doing as a Government, as a society - all of us, to remove that blatant disregard for life?"
"Always, there's that kind of fear in your mind while working," Sandeep said.
The new Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Newshub: "the Government will implement youth military academies for serious repeat offenders next year."
Mitchell also made clear his expectation of "increased visibility of police officers on the street and in communities".
So that retailers don't have to resort to metal poles and doors to have peace of mind.
