Shopkeepers call for harsher measures

Shopkeepers have taken to Hamilton streets to say enough is enough after the fatal stabbing of a Hamilton man working at an Auckland dairy.

Janak Patel, 34, died after an alleged robbery at a Sandringham dairy he was working at last Wednesday night.

About 200 people stood on Te Rapa Rd, outside The Base, yesterday to call for the Government to address the crime wave hitting small businesses – before anyone else died.

‘‘This is happening all the time. We just don’t know what will happen next,’’ an exasperated Sanjay Sharma said.

His store, the Bryant Park Super Liquor, was the victim of its first aggravated robbery on Wednesday at 6pm. Five people came in with knives and stole two cash registers, spirits, and RTDs before smashing up the store.

‘‘It’s very scary. Luckily the staff were safe, which is the main thing.’’

He said there needed to be harsher consequences for teens targeting retailers, and he believed shop owners would need to start protecting themselves with weapons.

A show of hands by the people targeted by an aggravated robbery saw almost the whole crowd raise their hands.

Raza Mehdi was at the rally in solidarity with dairy and superette owners. His wholesaler business, Bizline Hamilton, provided goods to about 200 dairies and most of them had been targeted.

‘‘I am here in support of them. It’s really sad, really frustrating for the community.’’

He said most small retailers were family run and it was sad to see their livelihoods targeted frequently.

National Party leader Chris Luxon, who was at the protest, said small retailers had been crying out for help for years. ‘‘It’s a big deal for them to pack up their shops and be out here. Enough is enough.’’

Luxon said there needed to be serious consequences for serious offending.

The National Party’s policy targeting young offenders, announced last week, would see those aged 15-17 who commit two or more serious crimes do a stint of up to 12 months in a young offender military academy.

A 34-year-old appeared in the Auckland District Court on Saturday, charged with murder and a second man, charged with robbery, will appear in Auckland District Court today. A third man was arrested and charged with robbery yesterday. He will appear in the Auckland District Court today.