The owner of a Stirling Sport store in Upper Hutt says he's preparing to sleep on the shop floor again after masked offenders smashed through the glass door and stole thousands of dollars in stock.
The break-in happened at the store on Main St at around 6am on Monday, when the alarm alerted Suraj Parkash Sund to suspicious activity at his store.
CCTV footage provided to 1News showed a masked man approaching the shopfront before using what appeared to be a hammer to smash through the glass door.
Three other people then follow him into the store, all wearing hoodies, beanies or balaclavas to conceal their identities. The group made off with clothing worth $9000.
Moment masked offenders steal thousands in Upper Hutt smash-and-grab - Watch on TVNZ+
Sund, who lives minutes from the store, said he drove straight there to find glass all over the entrance, clothes strewn across the floor, and police already on site.
Police confirmed receiving reports of the burglary at around 6am on Monday.
"Police attended and are making inquiries."
Sund said it was not the first break-in at the store since he opened last Easter – a man breaking in with an axe left him sleeping in the store for two weeks.
"I haven’t had a full six hours’ sleep in months. You’re always worried something’s going to happen."
Police advised Sund to close the store while forensic staff attempted to collect fingerprints but he said the uncertainty around when that would happen only added to his financial stress.
"If I close my store like this, how am I going to make my bills? The bank still wants their instalments."
A Givealittle page has been created to help with Sund's bills.
The toll of the robbery had been more than financial, he added.
"My kids know that alarm. When it went off this morning, they got panicked."
Sund called for tougher consequences for offenders, saying the current response did little as a deterrent and left retailers vulnerable.
"[The Government] aren't helping any retailer or any small business. I feel like taking my family with me to go sit outside Parliament and ask our leaders, 'what the hell are you doing'?"
Justice Minister: 'Always more work to do'
Sund said the impact had made him question his future in New Zealand after living in the country for 18 years.
"I’m not feeling safe here anymore. I’m thinking about closing the doors and leaving. It was a big mistake of my life that I opened a business here in New Zealand."
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said Sund's situation showed why the Government could not rest when it came to law and order.
The Government introduced its Crimes Amendment Bill last month, which included tougher measures targeting retail crime, including harsher penalties and the introduction of on-the-spot fines of up to $1000 for low-level theft in an effort to deter shoplifters.
"There’s always more work to do," Goldsmith said.
"Our Government is committed to fixing the basics in law and order, and ensuring victims are at the heart of the justice system."
For now, with the store's door smashed and unabled to be secured, Sund has pumped up the air mattress and will be sleeping at the premises to prevent another break-in.
"I don’t even have a door now. I’ll be sleeping on the floor again."
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