Sirens, fog cannons and DNA spray for $1.8M robbery prevention fund

Some dairies could be in line for new security measures to deter crime. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay businesses could be set to benefit from a $1.8 million nationwide initiative to protect vulnerable stores from aggravated robberies.

This year police funding was announced for security measures for certain retail outlets - specifically dairies and superettes - which are often targets of aggravated robberies.

Police identified businesses which may be eligible for co-funded prevention measures at their retail premises and frontline staff visited these businesses to assess whether they require the high-tech solutions.

Yesterday the manager of the National Prevention Centre, Superintendent Eric Tibbott, said eight premises in the Eastern District - from Gisborne to Hawke's Bay - had shown interest in being involved in the initiative.

"We know that these business owners are feeling vulnerable and this is not acceptable," Mr Tibbott said.

"We have seen some shocking footage of violence that people are experiencing and we are determined to help make people feel safe."

Across the country 54 businesses had tentatively agreed to opt into the co-funding model - where the fund and the individual owner would each pay half the cost of installing the new security measures.

Mr Tibbott said the criteria for co-funding had focused on a range of variables such as whether they had previously been targeted, were in a high-risk location, and what type of offending the store had been subject to.

"We're in the stage now where the vendor has the list of the 50-plus locations, and over the next few weeks they'll be visiting, making the finalisation and then fitting the equipment," he said.

The equipment could include ultra-sonic sirens, to disorient offenders and alert those nearby, and fog cannons - to confuse offenders, and make it difficult to steal any property.

DNA spray could also be installed. This sprays offenders leaving the scene with a chemical unique to that location, meaning they can be traced back to that store.

This could also work for stolen goods, Mr Tibbott said, meaning someone in possession of stolen items could be linked back to the store.

There has been a rise in aggravated robberies in Hawke's Bay, with dairies, service stations and bars targeted.

The region was not alone in this, with a nationwide increase starting with a "big spike" around April this year, Mr Tibbott said.

"What concerns police is the level of violence, what we're seeing is it's just wanton violence," he said.

"Offenders are going in and stealing and shopkeepers are putting up no resistance, a lot of the time they're assisting and helping . . . [but are] still being attacked and beaten up and threatened."

As well as shop owners knowing what to do if their store was targeted, these co-funded crime prevention measures could help keep shop owners safe.

"I encourage all business owners to consider their security needs and what steps they can take to prevent themselves becoming victims of crime," Mr Tibbott said.

"Anyone who isn't sure what steps they can take is welcome to call their local police station and a police officer will happily come and visit them."

The three security options have been installed at two concept stores in Auckland and Wellington.