Three raids in three years: Is it worth going on, says Moerewa butcher

Greg "Jacko" Jackson believes the raid on his Moerewa butchery was "stealing to order" by youths working for drug-dealing adults. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

A Northland butcher is wondering whether he'd be better off on the dole after his shop was emptied by thieves for the third time in three years.

Greg "Jacko" Jackson, the owner of Jacko's Discount Meats, turned up at his Moerewa store at 6am on Wednesday to find thieves had used a sledgehammer to smash through the back wall.

They took all his meat, with a retail value of about $6000, then turned the shop upside-down looking for anything of value.

They also took his knives and about $300 in cash.

He spent all day Wednesday cleaning up while friends helped him repair the back wall.

Now he's wondering if it's worth the effort of opening again.

"It's just about shut me down. What's the point? Am I better off on the dole?"

Mr Jackson said the break-ins put a strain on his whole family, who relied on him to pay the rent for their home.

Moerewa was a small place and there was plenty of talk about who had done it.

A steady stream of locals had come in to say how sorry they were and, on Wednesday afternoon, he got one brisket and a couple of pork loins back.

He doubted he'd see the rest of the meat, however.

Mr Jackson believed the break-in was done by youths who were "stealing to order" for adult drug dealers. It was P, not meat, they were really after.

"These guys are only young, but they're ruthless. They can take your livelihood away in less than half an hour."

"We have to get rid of this stuff (P or methamphetamine). Kaikohe's just as bad and Kerikeri's got it as well."

The offenders knew there were no police available in the Mid North at certain times and that police hands were tied anyway because they were underage.

The last time his shop was targeted, with thieves causing almost $2000 worth of damage, the same youths raided several other businesses in Moerewa before hitch-hiking south and continuing their spree in Whangarei.

His shop was uninsured because the premiums were too high.

Senior Sergeant Brian Swann, head of Mid North police, urged anyone who was offered cheap meat or knew who the offenders were to call their local police station immediately.

"With that amount of meat the offenders are going to want to sell it. If you purchase it you're just damaging a small local business and you're committing an offence yourself."

Mr Swann said police planned to change rosters to broaden their coverage. Police could also respond to a series of offences by putting on more staff at night, he said.

Just last week the Government pledged to boost Northland's stretched police ranks and bring in 24-hour coverage at Kaitaia from 2017-18 and in the Mid North from 2018-19.

It is understood Mid North police are looking at ways of making that happen sooner.