Fog cannons work at disrupting robberies
Police are hailing their new fog cannon scheme a success after the technology was used three times over the past three weeks to thwart armed offenders trying to rob dairies.
Two of the armed incidents were in Waikato and the other in Counties Manukau. One began with up to eight people loitering outside a store, putting the employee on alert.
Three of the people went inside the shop, one wielding a hammer. One of them was able to get behind the counter but the fog cannon was activated, creating a barrier for the employee to retreat to safety.
There were no injuries and minimal property loss. In another case, four masked men ran into a store – one with a bat and another with what appeared to be a knife.
Two of the men jumped over the counter and loaded cigarettes into a backpack. The shopkeeper triggered the fog cannon and the men immediately left the shop. One man was arrested.
In the third attempted robbery, an employee was confronted by a man holding what appeared to be a firearm.
After a brief exchange, the fog cannon was activated putting a clear barrier between the employee and the man, who left with a small amount of cash. He was later arrested.
Police national prevention manager Superintendent Eric Tibbott said the cannons worked as intended in each case, keeping staff safe despite the presence of weapons, and limiting property loss.
The high-tech equipment has been subsidised by a $1.8 million police fund for protecting vulnerable retail outlets.
Police figures show 415 businesses have been selected, including 28 in the Wellington police district. In February, Police Minister Stuart Nash said at-risk dairy and superette owners would pay no more than $250 towards the cost of a fog cannon, which could cost at least $4000. Previously, the subsidy covered only half the cost.
Although he welcomed the new scheme, New Zealand Association of Dairies, Groceries and Small Businesses president Neil Patel said he was frustrated by the slow progress. It did not yet come close to protecting the country’s 3600 dairies and grocery stores.
Patel is also urging police to conduct daily foot patrols at random times around stores to deter would-be criminals. The violent and unprovoked attack by a man who stabbed a shop assistant and a 62-year-old at a dairy in Auckland’s Grey Lynn last month was a ‘‘classic case’’ of where a fog cannon could have prevented injury or death.
... 415 businesses have been selected, including 28 in the Wellington police district.