Data obtained by the National Party shows the number of reported retail crime incidents in New Zealand has skyrocketed to more than 10,000 in a single month.
That’s the highest in recorded history, according to the party’s police spokesperson, Mark Mitchell.
“In the 12 months to November 30 last year, an average of 8541 retail crime incidents were recorded monthly,” he says.
“In October 2022 alone, there were a staggering 10,020 incidents.
“During the same 12-month period to November 30, 2018, an average of 4336 retail crime incidents were recorded – just half the number we are seeing today.”
The data shows a staggering 96,195 retail crime incidents reported across the country in the 11 months from January to November last year.
Numerous east Auckland businesses were targeted in ram-raids or smash-and-grab burglaries and robberies in the past year.
LiquorLand Howick was ram-raided twice in 2022.
The Michael Hill and TJ Handcrafted jewellery stores at the Botany Town Centre were both robbed multiple times.
Ormiston Town Centre was ram-raided on several occasions.
Other local businesses impacted by the ongoing crime wave include a petrol station, a book store, a health food shop, a vape store, an appliance store, dairies, and more.
Mitchell says criminals in New Zealand feel “emboldened because they know they will not be held accountable by this soft-on-crime Labour Government”.
He says that’s why violent crime has risen 21 per cent and gang membership is up 56 per cent.
“The new Prime Minister [Chris Hipkins] was in charge of the police portfolio when this data was recorded.
“Any suggestion his Government is not soft on crime, or that crime is decreasing, is utterly misleading and total spin.”
Mitchell says the Labour Government removed the Three Strikes legislation for serious repeat offenders, reduced the prison population, and not given police the powers to take firearms off violent criminals.
The new Police Minister, Stuart Nash, says he has a “very clear understanding” of the portfolio and he’s completely focused on the issues that matter for police and the public.
“These include ensuring police are supported with the people, resources, and legislative tools it needs to keep communities safe and prevent harm.
“Whether it’s continuing the rollout of frontline constables, supporting communities and businesses to respond to youth crime, reducing road deaths, making inroads to gang offending and organised crime, responding to natural disasters and emergencies like the Auckland floods, and preventing family harm, police is in a very strong position.”
As the Times recently reported, Hipkins has said he has a plan to help retail workers impacted by crimes such as ram-raid burglaries.
He said a Government fund established to support businesses that were the victims of ram-raids has been extended to those targeted in aggravated robberies.
The Government is also putting funding into partnering with councils on initiatives that will help to keep such businesses safe, he said.
“We’re making sure we’re doing everything we can to identify who the young offenders are, hold them accountable for their actions, and stop that offending from continuing.”
