Police ask businesses not to confront criminals

Scholtz said business owners and staff are paying the price for this type of crime, not just in monetary terms.

‘‘My sleeping pattern has been affected, I can’t sleep at night now.

‘‘I keep waiting for the alarm to go off. Your whole life changes.’’

The Matamata Gull service station had three women working there, who were scared following the double smash and grab crimes.

‘‘It’s not right these people take that lifestyle away from you. ‘‘It’s not fair.’’ Scholtz has put a new security system and a panic button for staff.

He hopes the new security measures he’s put in place will make it harder for thieves.

‘‘With my new alarm system, I can be here within a minute.’’

Matamata police officer in charge Blair Hayde, says police treated this type of crime seriously.

It carries two years’ imprisonment.

But he says in Matamata, this kind of offending was not on the rise.

‘‘We did have a short run mid-tolate last year but none since then. That’s due to the good work the Matamata Business Association has done with cameras.

‘‘We have had quite some success in apprehending a number of these offenders. Have we stopped them all? Of course we haven’t but we have certainly disrupted them.’’

Hayde said he doesn’t believe the offenders involved in these smash and grabs were violent.

Nor does he condone business owners replying with violence.

‘‘We never encourage people to take matters into their own hands,’’ Hayde said.