Retailers expect increase in violent robberies

Retailers expect increase in violent robberies

Local communities can expect more robberies of dairies and convenience stores as tobacco becomes even more expensive in a few months, says the Association of Community Retailers.

The latest armed robbery of a New Plymouth dairy on Saturday 16 October saw a robber hold a gun to the head of the shop owner’s 10-year-old daughter while demanding tobacco products. The robber made off with thousands of dollars worth of tobacco. It was the second time since May the dairy has been robbed.

“We, as society, are witnessing increasingly violent robberies of family-owned dairies and convenience stores, and they are likely to become even more common when the government implements the second round of tax increases on tobacco,” says ACR spokesperson, Mr Richard Green of Palmerston North.

“It is simply not acceptable that we have seen a young girl held at gunpoint just because the price of tobacco makes it a valuable commodity.”

More than 30 armed robberies have been reported in the last six months since the Government increased the tax on tobacco products in April.

“We believe the jury is still out on whether these tax increases will reduce tobacco consumption. My shop is not experiencing reduced sales. But what is certain is that the risks of being a shop-keeper will continue to get worse from January next year when the next tax hike is scheduled,” Mr Green said.

“Also for the last few years, we have expressed concern that the heavy reliance on tobacco tax increases could result in the emergence of a black market in tobacco products in New Zealand. The net result will be the Government is paying to send tobacco underground,” he said.

The Government’s tax increases on tobacco products will see the cost of an average pack of 25 cigarettes rise 28 percent by January 2012 while a typical 30 gram pouch of roll-your-own tobacco would increase by 40 percent.

The ACR is urging the Government to consider the impact of next two tax increases on retailers and their families. Regardless of claims by anti-tobacco groups, Treasury argued against the tax hike, saying they were “not highly effective” in encouraging quitting and achieving a drop in smoking prevalence.

ENDS

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