Opposition leaders are calling for tougher consequences for young people involved in ram-raids.
But the chair of the Dairy and Business Owners Group says there's another option that could help teach youth offenders a valuable lesson.
One dairy in Penrose has been burgled three times in the past three months.
"Some people assume if people own a business it makes good money, but in reality it's not like that," the owner told Newshub.
The owner wanted to remain anonymous. He said he's had sleepless nights since the burglaries and has stopped selling cigarettes to avoid being targeted again.
A campaigner for dairy owners said it's a common story.
"If you do any damage to these shops, they have to pay out of their own pocket, they're also struggling, they're not making minimum wage, they also have to feed their families," Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal said.
Kaushal said a convoluted system means dairy owners struggle to access the $6 million of assistance the Police Minister announced for preventative measures like bollards.
ACT said it should be easier for the victims.
"Chris Hipkins should explain how people who are vulnerable to ram-raids get the money. At the moment, you get shoulder-tapped by the police and it sounds like you have to get ram-raided before you get ram-raid protection," leader David Seymour said.
Opposition leaders say young offenders need to be deterred from a life of crime. Almost all ram-raids this year have been by people under the age of 18.
"There's been a halving of prosecutions of young people and there's a serious gap here with serious offenders in particular," said National leader Chris Luxon.
Luxon said there need to be tougher penalties on repeat offenders.
"We want to be really tough on the consequence of crime and have powerful interventions on the lives of these young people."
Kaushal said offenders should get the opportunity to experience the hard work it takes to run dairies.
"Dairy owners, business owners would like to employ them, would like to train them, would like to give meaning to life, and teach them what a dollar means to them," he said.
Because sometimes the quick buck can come with a long-lasting cost to the individual.
"The temporary solution is not the thing you want it to be, if you work hard and work smart you can get really good money," the dairy owner said.
An approach that could get thrill-seeking and at-risk children on the same side of the counter as dairy owners for all the right reasons.
