The Motor Trade Association (MTA) is calling for action following a brazen Auckland robbery over the weekend.
Police are looking for eight people who robbed a Central Auckland service station yesterday morning.
Some of the group were armed with hammers, police said.
CCTV footage shows a terrified worker at Western Springs Caltex making a frantic dash for safety as the group storms the counter.
Sanjai Bagia said it's an ongoing issue and offenders aren't being held to account. (Source: Breakfast)
From the back room of the petrol station, the worker triggered the fog cannon. The employee wasn't hurt.
Caltex franchise owner — and MTA member — Sanjai Bagia said offenders, especially in Auckland, need to start being held to account. Yesterday's robbery was the eighth on one of his stations since January.
In a statement, the MTA warned New Zealand is "heading for US-style crime hell" and the Government must take action.
Chief executive Lee Marshall said the risk of an attack is an everyday reality for many fuel stations.
"We're relieved that no one was hurt in this terrifying incident. Sadly, this sort of robbery is too common an occurrence on fuel station owners.
"At this rate, we're headed for the kind of hell you see in Florida where gas station operators need to hide behind inch-thick steel bars for protection. We seriously need to ask ourselves if that's a future we want," Marshall said.
"Most local gas stations are small, locally owned and operated franchises, and the pain of repeated robberies takes a toll not only on the business financially, but also on the physical and mental health of workers.
"The Government has talked tough on tackling crime, but we now need some action, and there are some small practical steps that can be quickly enacted."
Marshall said service stations will remain at risk until the Government "backs up the rhetoric on crime with strong action".
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