Attacks won't deter owner

Kiran Mistry will not be deterred from his shop, despite several attacks. Photo/Ben Fraser

Dairy owner Kiran Mistry has been hit with a table leg and had his dairy targeted "six or seven" times, but even after he was hit with a golf club on Tuesday, he cannot be forced from his shop.

Mr Mistry and other dairy owners are calling for more support from police and tougher sentencing as a deterrent to the offending.

He has owned Sunset Super Seven dairy on Mount View Dr for 20 years and Tuesday's incident has strengthened his resolve.

About 6.50pm, two men armed with golf clubs confronted him demanding money.

One rushed at him three times with a club, taking a swing in the final rush and striking him, police said.

"It was frightening, the third time he came at me it was really aggressive," Mr Mistry said.

After making repeated demands the offenders ran off.

But Mr Mistry, who was not injured, said he would not give up his shop.

"Why should I have to give it up? I want to feed my wife and kids and give them a good education.

"Everybody worries. I worry myself, but what can you do? Why should I give it away for them? Life is dangerous."

He said he would like regular police patrols around dairies in the evenings to deter offenders.

"The penalties need to be tougher too," he said. "They should be too scared to go to prison."

Kiran Mistry will not be deterred from his shop, despite several attacks. Photo/Ben Fraser

Three weeks ago Sunset Pricecutter owner Milesh Kumar had a gun pointed at him. Two people were charged for that aggravated robbery, which was the fourth in his time at the shop. He said hearing about Mr Mistry's experience "brought back all those memories".

"Once you've experienced it you feel for the guys who it happens to," Mr Kumar said.

"There are only so many security measures you can take. Unless you put a cage around you there's no way to prevent this."

Jitesh Kumar, who owns Eastside Foodmarket Pricecutter, said dairy owners lived with this fear.

"You wake up each day and don't know what's going to happen. But we're not going to be dictated to by these people."

Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed this week's incident. The two men are described as wearing balaclavas and dark clothing.

Contact Rotorua police on (07) 348 0099 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.