A spate of ram raids, burglaries and robberies is taking its toll on jewellery store owners in Auckland.
Emergency repairs at the Huffer store in Auckland. Photo:
Three people were arrested overnight and the Harvey Norman and Huffer stores in Westgate and Ponsonby were hit.
There was also a failed break-in at a Takanini mobile phone shop.
The spate of crime across Tāmaki Makaurau has workers calling for stronger action.
Harish Lodhia of Sona Sansaar said after operating in Aotearoa for over 30 years, this is easily the most unsafe and vulnerable he has ever felt.
"All the jewellers are on edge, we are trading in fear all the time with roller shutters down, we are focusing on the door rather than the customer."
Brownsons director Jaynend Raniga said the violent nature of the crimes is also increasing.
"These are becoming rampant and more aggressive day after day."
Lodhia fears the worst may be still to come.
"It's only a matter of time before someone is going to get hurt pretty bad, hopefully no-one loses their life."
Many of the ram raids and burglaries have been committed by people under 18, some as young as 11.
Jewellers are calling on the government to take a stronger stance against the crime.
"They are challenging police and it's an embarrassment and a shame," Raniga said.
Brownsons is located inside the Royal Oak Mall and the offenders used axes and hammers to break inside.
Owners are taking drastic measures to avoid becoming the next victim including investing in heavy roller doors and applying to council to install bollards.
Queen's Jewellery owner Phillip Lin said at times they are forced to lock the doors when open.
"We have to put a notice to knock for service."
His daughter, Kathy, said this hurts their profits.
"Essentially we are getting an even harder squeeze for our margins. We have had to cut down a lot of our other costs trying to survive."
Raniga empathised with law enforcement but said something needs to be done soon.
"Police are doing their jobs, police are frustrated, there is not a simple solution."
Recent ram raids and robberies range from liquor stores to luxury fashion shops such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci.
Call for 'hard crackdown'
Clothing store Huffer in Ponsonby is the latest high end store to be hit - about 2am today.
Managing director Kate Berry said thieves targeted down jackets which retail for $400-$500 each, and can be onsold.
She said their young staff were fearful of being victimised and worried about locking up at night.
"This needs a hard crackdown by the government and the police. There is absolutely no way we should be living in central Auckland and having this happen to anyone and we need to make a stand now; otherwise, it's going to get out of control."
Berry said it is now about what we as a society will accept.
An expert in child crime said the country must get creative to keep youth offenders out of the system.
Criminology lecturer Dr Trevor Bradley of Victoria University said based on recent history a blanket zero tolerance approach will simply increase the prison population.
"Getting tougher has never been the answer and never results in the outcomes we want to see."
Dr Bradley said over the past decade there has been a major reduction in youth offending.
Jewellers say the cost of a cleanup following a ram raid can reach six figures.
However, despite the risks, Lodhia said he has no plans to shut up shop.
He said New Zealand is among the most secure and peaceful countries but if nothing is done it will become the crime capital of the South Pacific.
"I have been here 35 years and do not intend to go anywhere but the constant fear of being attacked is always looming over our heads."
