Recent research revealed about one in three people in New Zealand have experienced a burglary.

A shocking 63 per cent of those burglaries happened while people were away from home for less than 24 hours.

The research, carried out by Colmar Brunton and commissioned by AA Insurance, began with a survey of 1100 people across the country.

Of those burgled, 13 per cent were home when they were targeted, 23 per cent away for a short period, 39 per cent out for the day and 25 per cent away on holiday.

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Almost 3000 victims of retail theft – including armed robberies – have come forward to Northland police in the last three years, new crime figures reveal.

These include store owners and shop assistants left shaken and traumatised. Sometimes aggressive offenders threaten or injure staff before making off with cash or stock.

Even after offenders flee, it’s not over for the victims. The fear of another theft hangs over them. Often traumatised, some don’t return to work. Flashbacks can be triggered at the slightest reminder.

Owners lose money needed to feed their families and pay the rent. This has been experienced by many of the 2934 victimisations in less than three years.

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Robbers armed with guns entered a bar, threatened staff and forced customers to lie on the ground.

Counties Manukau acting Detective Senior Sergeant Warrick Adkin said three people went into the Headin’ Home Bar on Ti Rakau Drive in Pakuranga armed with two guns about 12.30pm today.

There were about 12 customers in the bar at the time.

The offenders, who were disguised, threatened the staff and forced the customers to lie on the floor.

Shots were fired during the robbery, but no one was injured.

The offenders took cash and fled in a white car that was waiting outside.

 

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A rash of robberies at Tauranga dairies, service stations and liquor stores the past month have police pursuing leads and business owners tightening security. How are shop owners protecting staff and stock? Is selling what thieves target – tobacco – worth the risk? Bay of Plenty Times Weekend reporter Dawn Picken shows us how locals are bolstering businesses against crime.

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Chief executive officer of the New Zealand Security Association Gary Morrison says a store’s layout and signage are important, too. He encourages advertising security measures such as cameras, using bars and grilles to restrict access, and having store owners work together. “…thinking about what they can do in regards to foot patrols. I don’t think that area is utilised as much as it could be…if businesses pool their resources, it’s more cost-effective.”

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Police appear to have broken a major burglary ring targeting homes in Christchurch’s north-west suburbs.

Eighty-three houses have been burgled in Ilam, Bryndwr and Strowan over the past 10 weeks.

They have been carried out during the day when householders were not there.

A 30-year-old was arrested on Friday and since then the number of burglaries had dropped, Detective Sergeant Ross Tarawhiti said.

Police believe there are other people linked to the arrested man who were also allegedly involved in the break-ins.

Jewellery and other quickly moveable items such as cellphones have been stolen.

The arrested man was ambushed by detectives on Friday who were in Ilam investigating the break-ins.

He was allegedly spotted coming out of a property and then observed going into others.

The detectives then pounced, apprehending the 30-year-old.

 

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Another aggravated robbery.

Another shop owner left traumatised, possibly injured and definitely out of pocket.

This type of offending is on the increase.

It’s happening all over the country, in dairies, petrol stations and superettes, and particularly in South Auckland.

We share the deep public concern about this offending and its impact upon victims in our vulnerable communities.

New Zealanders have had enough and are rightly asking what their police are doing about it.

 

To our small business owners, I say: We are there for you.

We care deeply about robbery victims.

Dedicated and resourceful police staff are working tirelessly to make you safer and help achieve justice should the worst happen.

We can’t put an officer on permanent guard outside every dairy or liquor store but we are putting many extra resources on to the streets.

 

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At least 19 people are dead and 50 more are injured after a suspected suicide bomber targeted children leaving a packed pop concert at Manchester Arena last night.

Witnesses told of nuts and bolts tearing into young concert-goers when the blast was detonated in the foyer area between the arena and the next-door Victoria station just after the Ariana Grande gig ended.

Horrifying footage showed petrified children leaping over chairs and barriers as they desperately tried to escape the 21,000-seat venue, which led to a stampede.

 Armed officers surrounded the venue and bloodied casualties were seen being stretchered out of the concert that resembled a “war zone”.

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One of the owners of the Waipukurau bar targeted by thieves twice on the same day says the two crimes show an urgent need for more police in the district.

Thousands in cash was stolen from the Farrier’s Arms on Northumberland St in an early-morning break-in last Tuesday. A few hours later, a man then allegedly attempted to steal money from the bar’s till.

Farrier’s Arms co-owner Joy Cooper was so angered by the crimes she said she would be contacting both Tukituki MP Craig Foss and Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott to demand more police officers for CHB.

In the early-morning break-in just after 5am last Tuesday, a man wearing a cap and hood, with a bandana covering his face, smashed a window at nearby Cervus Equipment to gain entry to the bar. He then kicked a “monstrous” hole in the door of the pub’s office, found the key to a safe and then stole thousands of dollars.

“They must have known the place well, as they knew to go to the office and they managed to find the key for the safe,” said Joy.

A distinctive black and white plastic dog – used as a tip jar – was also stolen in the robbery. Joy said the tips were intended to be given as a gift to a pregnant staff member. “It’s just so disheartening,” she said.

Just hours later that same day, a man who had been playing the pokie machines in the pub’s gaming room then allegedly attempted to steal money from the bar’s till.

Ms Cooper, who was in the bar’s dining area at the time around 12.45pm, saw the man behind the bar and then chased him out. The man was arrested soon after when he was pulled over by police near Otane just after 1pm.

 

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