An Auckland family are shutting up shop after their diary was robbed three times in the space of 48 hours.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Aatif Khan said the business had been a target for crime before they bought it, but the previous owners never told them.
He said after the first burglary happened, police told him there had already been a few incidents at the same address.
"If they had of told me, I could've thought twice before buying this business or maybe I would've spoken to the landlord to get some security installed like a roller door.
"We put our hard earned money, and it was actually my wife's savings, in to buy this business which we thought you know living here and working from home would be a feather in the cap but it looks like it's all a disaster now."
Also speaking to Breakfast this morning, AUT law professor Rod Thomas said the previous dairy owner didn't have any legal obligation to tell the Khans the store had previously been burgled.
"There's no obligation of law in general terms to disclose this sort of thing but really the answer depends on what actually happened between the parties.
"So if questions were asked and answered improperly, then that could lead to some form of legal liability."
In terms of the lease, he said it was a different issue around disclosure if it was a "stigma property" - such as a leaky building.
Khan said he still wants his bond back, despite abandoning the tenancy.
Thomas said it's difficult to cast judgement without having all the details of the sale, but it would like be very difficult for the Khans to get any kind of financial compensation from the previous business owners.
"On the very few facts that I know, I think he would be lucky to be able to get it [the bond], unless he could somehow say that the fundamental relationship between the landlord and the tenant has been breached."
In a statement police said they are investigating two burglaries at the same store on Castleford St in Green Bay.
"During the first burglary, a group of young people entered the store after breaking in with a hammer around 11.50pm.
"A group of people also entered the store during the second burglary by breaking the glass of the door around 12.15am.
"This time, a fog cannon installed at the store was triggered and caused the thieves to scatter," a police spokesperson said.
They said inquiries are ongoing and will include looking to determine if the same group was involved in both incidents.
A scene examination has been completed for each incident and staff are working to determine the identities of those involved.
Anyone with further information is urged to contact police.
SHARE ME