Youths arrive in separate cars before trying to smash into a dairy on Epsom Road.
A manager and an owner of two seperate Christchurch businesses are furious after a gang of youths targeted their businesses in an overnight crime-spree.
At 3.30AM, youths smashed their way into Sharkey’s Pub on Hoon Hay Road stealing alcohol.
Manager Chris said he’s had enough.
“I got a text this morning to come in and clean up the mess left behind.
Sharkey’s manager Chris said he’ll “take matters into my own hands” if he catches the youth offenders.
“The place was raided on Friday morning too, and we are still waiting for police to turn up to that incident.
We’re getting really f***** off. I understand that cops have got their hands tied, but their performance to me isn’t really that great.
As far as I’m concerned, if we call police, they should at least come and have a look, take finger prints. I know they might be stretched but their needs to be more general police, instead of traffic cops.”
Youths smash into Sharkey’s Pub on Hoon Hay Road
Chris said last night “the youths smashed their way in, took what they wanted, and left. I mean it just beggars belief. They took lolly water, a few bottles of vodka cruises and mud shakes.”
An hour later, at least 7 youths in two separate vehicles pulled into the carpark in front of the Racecourse Dairy on Epsom Road in Sockburn and started kicking in the front door of the shop.
Owner Mike told Chris Lynch “fortunately for us, the glass and the bars are reinforced, so as soon as they smashed in the windows, the alarm was activated.
They jumped in their cars and they leave rather rapidly.”
Racecourse Dairy Owner Mike said the law needed changing to allow police to take a harder line on youth offenders.
Mike said it was the second major incident at the dairy.
In June 2021, masked youths stormed the dairy, armed with a firearm and raided the shop.
“We’ve got quite good cameras and good coverage of the street and the footage has been sent to police.
Mike said “every dairy owner in Christchurch is frustrated, apprehensive and anxious.
Many simply won’t call police because they’re fearful of offenders or they think they won’t get punished.”
“There is no police pursuit policy, so that just encourages young kids to steal cars and go to the next place and then the next place, because they know that they’re not going to get chased” he said.
Offenders smash in glass door of dairy on Epsom Road
Mike said he and his wife have been discussing putting cages over the counter as well.
“We’re resisting that at the moment because this dairy is part of a community and you want to make people feel welcome when they come in.
We don’t want to lose that sense of community.
A police spokeswoman said they were investigating both raids.
