After being slashed with a machete in a brutal robbery a Hamilton dairy owner has taken security into his own hands.
Customers of a Hamilton dairy that has installed an iron cage to keep its owners and staff safe have been overwhelmingly supportive of the idea.
Owner Sandip Patel had the security entrance installed on Good Friday, nearly a month after he was viciously attacked by a machete-wielding man during an aggravated robbery.
While the two alleged offenders, aged 16 and 17, have been arrested, Patel said he still didn't feel safe and wanted a more permanent fix while waiting to hear back regarding any possible Governmental assistance.
Patel, who no longer has the bandages masking his fractured skull and defensive cuts to his hands, said today all his regular customers supported what he was doing.
Today he had also received calls of support from members of the public from outside the Waikato region.
Patel says customers can always open the door, but he has the option of locking it if the person is heavily disguised. Photo / Belinda Feek
Putting the price up on cigarettes had almost put a target on dairy owners' backs.
"I just think cigarettes being so expensive hasn't done anything to change it. People are still smoking but they're [stealing from] dairies to get them. The Government thinks they did something right, but clearly they didn't. It's so annoying."
She had been in the shop not long after Patel had been attacked and was horrified at the sight.
"It made me cry, it was awful. I can't believe it. It's scary, it really is. It's just lucky it wasn't worse."
Hamilton Boy's High School student Zac Entwisle, 16, also lives nearby and was a regular customer.
He was entering the store for the first time since the new security system had been installed.
He said the cage wouldn't put him off shopping there in the future, however he didn't think it was fair.
"I think it's pretty bad, he shouldn't have to do this ... it should be safe where he works."
Since the attack there had been a greater police presence in the area, but the locking cage doors would make him and his customers feel more safe, Patel said.
"Now if somebody comes along with their hood up or a bandanna I will ask them to take it off before I let them in, otherwise they can go somewhere else."
