Burglars target small firms
A Horowhenua business owner whose shop has been burgled three times in three years says the most upsetting part is knowing those responsible will face little consequence.
Jen Ball opened her “baby” Sweet Dreams Bakery on Foxton’s main street in 2021.
Since then, thieves had broken into the store on three occasions leaving behind a mess of strewn food, broken glass and “devastated” staff.
The first theft happened not long after they opened. They had just bought outdoor furniture and a gazebo, and it was all taken.
Ball said the most recent break-in was on the weekend when thieves smashed their way in through a front window.
They stole a charity box off the counter, a tablet and some food, and left their fingerprints inside some custard squares. Some of the food was found dumped at a nearby car park.
Ball believed the culprits were only young and had little faith the police would arrest them. Even if they did, she felt the offenders would face “no consequences”. “That’s the most upsetting part.”
As a passionate cake maker, the shop had been her personal project. She said the thefts had been devastating at a time when they were already doing it tough.
They had a second cafe at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, but struggled getting the same foot traffic through the bakery.
Ball said they were thinking about putting it on the market when the third break-in happened, and now knew this was the right decision. “It’s such an intrusion ... it gets to your soul.”
On Monday night, Pawsome Vets in Levin was also targeted in a burglary.
Owners and veterinarians Rachael Stratton and Rhea Hurley were alerted to the incident at 10.18pm after the shop’s alarm sounded.
Stratton said people were on scene within minutes, including nearby neighbours who heard the alarm.
Cameras onsite captured a slim male wearing a blue Mizuno backpack kicking in the front door before entering the shop.
He was wearing all black with a hood up and a balaclava over his face.
Stratton said they did not know what the man was after. He took only a few items from the shop before grabbing a 20kg bag of dog food. He was inside the clinic for about 90 seconds before running from the store to the rear of the yard and jumping a back fence.
The clinic had high-definition cameras that caught several images of the offender, and this footage had been passed to police.
Stratton and Hurley said they had invested in decent security for the clinic and believed this stopped the offender getting off with anything significant.
There were no animals on site at the time and they managed to secure the door afterwards with the help of locals who provided large bits of plywood.
Yesterday morning, Stratton said their builder Brian Welch was on scene before they were. Tradesmen installed a new “beefed-up” metal front door.
They were both “very grateful” for the community support as it meant the clinic could continue operating as normal.
A police media spokesperson said they responded to the incident on Oxford St and while investigating the area, signalled for a vehicle of interest to stop.
The vehicle fled and inquiries were ongoing to locate those involved in both incidents.
Local MP Tim Costley said crime came to a “crescendo” in Horowhenua in 2023.
He had visited several businesses who were victims of ramraids and smash and grabs, and said staff at one dairy now had to work out of a “horrible cage” to stay safe.
In the last six years, violent crime had increased by 33%, and retail crime had almost doubled. This was a consequence of being “soft on crime”, something his Government was not prepared to tolerate.
Costly had also met with local officers to see what they needed and noted the promised 500 frontline officers.
“We want to put public safety back in the heart of the justice system.”