Funding announced to fight armed robberies

The Government has pledged to make $1.8m available to shopkeepers, dairy owners and local businesses who are battling a spate of aggravated robberies.

A significant number of robberies across the upper North Island have been reported in the past few weeks, including the armed robbery of two cash-in-transit vans, a Northland Warehouse, and various dairies.

Police Minister Paula Bennett announced the $1.8m grant for family owned and independent businesses so they can increase security, following concerns raised about security and prevention.

They can apply for co-funding for items like panic alarms, fog cannons, time safes, and DNA spay.

Shop owners could also access advice about how to lay out their stores to make them safer, Bennett said.

Police would identify the high risk businesses and they would be invited to apply for a grant, Bennett said. Police would fund half of the security measures, which Bennett predicted would apply to up to 600 businesses.

‘‘Aggravated robbery is a serious crime. These criminals need to know that they could face 14 years in prison and they’re much more likely to get caught now police have these new measures in place,’’ Bennett said.

Bennett said there’s ‘‘no doubt’’ the number of aggravated robberies has gone up, and the profile of the offenders are ‘‘generally aged around 25 years and under’’.

‘‘Aggravated robbery is a serious crime. ’’ Paula Bennett