Springfield Bottle-O in Rotorua is targeted by ram raiders again. Video / Supplied
Six bumbling would-be thieves in three cars were forced to abandon an attempted ram raid after failing to get through three steel rear doors at a Rotorua liquor store.
But what it has meant for Springfield Bottle-O owner Jasmine Singh is another $1000 insurance excess payout and having to dig deeper into her business’ coffers to find up to $4000 for bollards – this time for the rear of her store.
The Springfield Bottle-O was ram-raided at 6am on Sunday by a group of at least six people in three vehicles, Singh said. They drove one of the vehicles down an alleyway behind the liquor store at the Otonga Rd shops.
Security camera footage of the ram raid shows one of the group recording it on his phone as they try to drive through the roller doors.
Singh said they reversed one of the cars into the shop’s roller door, which caused enough vibration to set off the alarm, prompting them to run away empty-handed.
She said they would have been hard-pressed to get through the doors because there was an exterior roller door, a metal door that’s part of the building, as well as an interior roller door.
“But what they do each time is cause damage and it’s another $1000 to get it fixed.”
She said they would have no choice but to get bollards at the rear of the store now as well.
“It comes out of our own pocket, from the cashflow of the business.”
Singh has already just recently added more bollards to the front of the liquor store on the footpath off Otonga Rd - costing $4000 - after thieves ram-raided the front window on February 7.
The Springfield Bottle-O was ram-raided on Sunday by a group of at least six thieves in three vehicles.
Police said in a statement they responded to the liquor store ram raid at 6.09am on Sunday.
They said a vehicle that damaged the door was left behind and the offenders fled in two other cars.
Police were later notified a car was broken into on Hamon Pl overnight on Sunday.
“Scene examinations at both places have been conducted and the vehicle left on Otonga Rd has been recovered. Police understand that they are likely to be connected and inquiries are ongoing to identify and locate those involved.”
More break-ins and stolen cars
There were at least five car-related crimes in Rotorua overnight on Saturday and 12 stolen cars were found in the city over the weekend.
The 12 stolen cars were found at various locations across Rotorua including at the scene of the ram raid.
Police said in a statement it appeared some of the car crime at the weekend was linked to the attempted ram raid and Hamon Pl car break-in.
A car was stolen from a Victoria address between 12am and 5.20am on Sunday.
A car was broken into and had the ignition pulled at a second Victoria address, between 1am and 4.55am on Sunday.
A car was broken into and had the ignition pulled at a Hillcrest address about 3am on Sunday.
A car was stolen at 2.10am on Sunday from a Fenton Park address.
A car was stolen at 10.35pm on Saturday from a Pomare address.
Nuisance for victims
A woman who owns a car broken into in Hillcrest said those responsible would have no idea the grief they caused victims.
The woman, who didn’t want to be named for fear of retribution, said their car was broken into overnight on Saturday and the ignition barrel was ripped out.
She said the damage meant the car would not start so it needed to be towed to get fixed. She found out this morning the damage is extensive and it would be three weeks before it is fixed and returned to them.
She said while they were insured, it would still cost them $400 not to mention the hassle of having to cope without a car for three weeks.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
