Luxon: Dairy owners endure daily fear of ‘another ramraid call’
National Party leader Christopher Luxon has claimed it is the Government’s ‘‘primary responsibility’’ to protect its citizens in the wake of the fatal stabbing of store worker Janak Patel.
The 34-year-old was killed last week after the dairy he was working in, the Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham, Auckland, was robbed.
Speaking in Tauranga yesterday lunchtime, Luxon claimed many dairy and convenience store owners were fearful of simply answering the phone late at night, in case it was news of a ramraid.
‘‘You have to put yourself in their shoes, because when I talk to them, they don’t want to take a telephone call after 10pm at night because they’re worried it’ll be another ramraid call,’’ the Opposition leader said.
‘‘They are worried about leaving their staff – many of whom are family members – working in shops unattended. There’s real fear, anxiety and stress.’’
Luxon said his party had been talking about the issue ‘‘for most of the year now’’.
‘‘A primary responsibility of any government is to make sure it protects its citizens, so they feel safe in their houses, their businesses and their communities,’’ he said.
‘‘I hope the prime minister and the Cabinet are waking up and getting their heads in the game.’’
He also claimed there was a ‘‘lack of understanding’’ from the Government in relation to the impact of what he called a ‘‘senseless act of violence’’.
‘‘I’ve met with many victims of ramraids and aggravated burglaries, and a common theme is that these are New Zealanders that have worked incredibly hard and often [have] come here having left everything behind,’’ he said.
‘‘I don’t think there’s an understanding of that – this Government is too stuck in the bubble of Wellington, and it needs to get out and meet with victims and really understand what it’s like for people.
‘‘There is immense frustration, and rightfully so.
‘‘One guy I met yesterday had been ramraided five times in five days, and it was the same people doing it over and over again. There has to be some powerful circuit-breaker interventions.’’