Podcast appearances and mentions of ram raids

Praise from a vocal retail crime critic and ministerial advisor over the Government's strategies to curb crime rates. New data shows ram raids halved last year while violent crime dropped 2%. However, overall retail crime increased 12%. Dairy and Business Owners Group Chair Sunny Kaushal told Andrew Dickens it will take time, but the tougher approach is working. He says retailers and dairy owners have lived in fear every day for years, and people are feeling the difference between the two governments. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister is giving himself a pass mark one year into his new role, but acknowledges there's work to be done. Last August, he said if the public hadn't started to see a change in public safety within a year of his appointment, he'd resign. Mark Mitchell believes he's delivered, pointing to a three percent reduction in victimisations in the first nine months of the year - compared to the same period last year. He says things are headed in the right direction, but more need to be done. "We're working hard and achieving results - and although there's a lot more to do, we are headed in the right direction, no doubt." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New crime figures are a mixed bag for retailers. Data released by the Police Minister shows a 61% drop in ram raids in the first nine months of the year, compared to the same period in 2023. But thefts at retail premises are up 12%, and there's been no change in breaking and entering or acts intended to cause injury. Dairy and Business Owner's Group Vice Chairperson, Ash Parmar told Ryan Bridge the ram-raid reductions are good news, as they brought a high human cost. He says it was too easy for too long, but a lot of the youths responsible are being picked up by Police more often now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail criminals will be paying the price of their actions. The new Ministerial Advisory Group - set up by the Government for the victims of retail crime - will be funded out of the proceeds of crime fund. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Andrew Dickens he wants the group to come with specific proposals quickly, to make changes to law to better deal with the problem. He says there's no doubt the group will offer "confronting solutions" - but the government is committed and open to all ideas. Leaked report suggests Kiwirail shouldn't run Interislander ferries  TVNZ reports the independent advisory group, set up earlier this year, reported back to Ministers last month with a range of options.  The group's preference was for a separate entity to run the ferries. That could be   new state owned enterprise so that there would still be government oversight. Goldsmith, speaking as State Owned Enterprises Minister, told Andrew Dickens he wouldn't be drawn into specifics.  He says the government is open to all options - but won't be rushing a decision.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FIRST WITH YESTERDAY'S NEWS (highlights from Tuesday on Newstalk ZB) No? Weird, Right?/Too Close to Home/Learn Te Reo Through Current Events/What Your Watch is For/Trolley TakeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ram raids are down more than 80% for the month of April, compared to last year. Police have identified 12 ram raids in April 2024, compared to 64 in April 2023. Sixty-four! That wasn't even the highest. There was a peak in August 2022 when there were 86 ram raids. There was a total of 433 ram raids in 2022, 288 in 2023, and 67 in the first four months of this year.   To what can we attribute the drop in ram raids? It would be nice to think that the tougher measures, The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill passing its first reading would have contributed. This bill will add smash and grabs to the Crimes Act and give police the power to prosecute ram raiders as young as 12 years old. And who do you think proposed that? It was Labour. They had seen the writing on the wall by that stage. You know the number of ram raids were just beyond the pale and people were absolutely fed up with what looked like inaction on the part of the Labour government, so they were the ones who introduced The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill and it passed its first reading with support from National and ACT, the Greens and Te Pati Māori opposed it (In a stunning narrative twist you probably picked that up?).   Or it could be the Kotahi te Whakaaro Programme. You might remember that when we interviewed the police officer involved with that, John Campbell also highlighted that it was a multi-agency approach, a wraparound approach to dealing with young ram raiders. Because these kids are young, and as soon as they got the first report, then they would get the schools involved, the families involved. It was so multi agency and seemed to be working and we had high hopes. I'm pretty sure it got continued funding because it was showing positive results in terms of young people not reoffending after completing the programme. So it could be that.   Or it could just be that ram raids have gone out of fashion. You know, there have been enough of them on TikTok, enough of them on social media, and now they're just not cool. Word on the street, they're not cool anymore. I don't know.   Presumably, there was an end purpose to the ram raids, with the jewellery being targeted. There was conjecture that perhaps the gangs were looking for gold as a way of buy, sell, and exchange - that they would take the jewellery, melt it down, and use it as currency. That was just conjecture. I don't know, but I am just jolly glad that the number of ram raids have gone down because the reduction in ram raids is a reduction in trauma. It's a reduction in upset. It's a reduction in financial loss and the expense of policing these wee oiks. Kotahi te Whakaaro was not cheap, but if it was working, all well and good.   I don't know about you, I have noticed fewer gang patches on the street, less obvious swaggering, but that is only anecdotal. I would love to hear from you as to what your anecdotal experience is. Is the message that's been sent, and you would have to say it started with Labour when it went to The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill, they were the ones that introduced it because they knew the public had had enough. Is the general message of ‘up with this we will not put', made so loud and so clear that the gangs have had to pull back a bit from the obvious swaggering, from the we own the streets, we own the stores, we'll do what we like. Or is it just a change in business in inverted commas, direction from them? Or is it simply that ram raids have gone out of fashion? If only murdering babies would go out of fashion.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data disproves the Government's claims that reducing the number of tobacco retailers would lead to an increase in ram raids according to a public health professor. The Coalition plans to repeal smoke free legislation that would slash the number of tobacco retailers from 6000 to 600, take 95% of the nicotine out of cigarettes and ban sales to anyone born after 2009. In documents obtained by RNZ, the Health Ministry urged the Associate Health Minister to keep elements of the current law and suggested compromises, but the minister rejected them. This morning, the Prime Minister doubled down on his claim that reducing the number of tobacco outlets would increase the black market and dairy crime, despite evidence siggesting otherwise. University of Otago public health professor Janet Hoek speaks to Lisa Owen.

Labour says efforts to crack down on ram raids are working. The party's police spokesperson is hitting back at claims by National Leader Chris Luxon that there are two ram raids a day. Ginny Andersen told Tim Dower data released by Police shows a 70 percent reduction in ram raids from their peak of 116 a month in August last year. “While the numbers are a bit noisy, they have been in decline generally since that point where they peaked. So they reached 35, which is the lowest we've had over a two-year period.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's criminal landscape is changing, and our police force is having to make adjustments.

Political calls to crack down on crime are echoing in our media ahead of the upcoming election - not for the first time. Two seasoned journalists showed this was part of a pattern in a report on crime coverage which recommended new approaches. It was commissioned five years ago - but never saw the light of day. 

The Justice Minister's revealed a new law and order strategy to cut down on youth crime. The Government launched a new legal ram-raiding offence - and 12 and 13 year olds could face the charge in the youth court. Minister Kiri Allan says these new policies targeting ram-raiders build on from earlier crime prevention measures. "What that does is- it allows for 12 and 13 year olds to be charged in the youth court. That means there's a whole suite of options available to decision makers that aren't currently available."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new offence for young people is the latest announcement in the Government's retail crime crackdown. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says the Government's creating a new offence targeting ram raider and allowing 12 and 13 year olds to be charged in the youth court. ZB political editor Jason Walls says this announcement is long overdue, as ram raids have been a problem for two years too long. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moves to help the justice system crack down on brazen criminal offending. The ram-raid trend of filming a criminal act and posting it online will now become an aggravating factor in sentencing. The Government is also creating a new offence for people commissioning children to offend, or rewarding them for it. Police Minister Ginny Andersen says she knows young people are competing on stealing cars and posting them online. "That is absolutely disgusting behaviour, and we want to send a strong message out that videoing criminal activity will not be tolerated." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The owner of a vape store left atleast $150,000 out-of-pocket after a five-car ram-raid is calling on tougher consequences for offenders. Vape Vice Co in Thames's Goldfields Shopping Centre was targeted early yesterday morning. Owner, Kevin Carroll, says, it's the fourth time in four months one of his stores has been hit. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that if he was in Government, he'd declare a State of Emergency. Carroll says it's getting worse and worse — with offenders wielding axes, hammers, and other weapons destroying their businesses. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's proposing more tweaks to sentencing rules to "ensure there are real consequences for ram raiders". If in government it plans to make filming and publishing their crimes an aggravating factor in the Sentencing Act for adult ram raiders. And to crack down on them sharing the videos. It will also make filming and publishing ram raids a qualifying offence for its "Young Serious Offender" category for 10 to 17 year olds. Some of them can then be sentenced to miltary style boot camps. National's Justice Spokesperson, Paul Goldsmith, says the two changes will tackle the wave of ram-raids. He spoke to Lisa Owen. (V) [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6330345778112

Crime is set to be a big election year issue, with polls showing the public feels unsafe and the opposition claiming the government is 'soft' on offending. A pair of Herald journalists have tried to get to the truth behind the political jousting.

Parliament's justice committee has been hearing experts on youth justice, the age of criminal responsibility, and better outcomes from alternative approaches to justice.

Embattled retailers doubt more money for fog cannons will stop the spate of ram raids they're experiencing. The government's announced another $11 million for the fog cannon scheme - which the police minister says has been "incredibly popular". But retailers say they need more police on the beat around their stores to stop the crime happening in the first place. Our reporter Jimmy Ellingham and camerman Nick Monro have the story.  

Tell you what I'm getting quite sick of: constantly being told by Government ministers and people who want to be nice to criminals that crime is tracking down.   You hear it all the time. Every time someone pitches an idea for how to crack down on crime, like the ACT Party with the juvenile detention centre idea yesterday, up pops a critic with a piece of data to tell you that there's nothing to worry about. You're imagining it, crime's not as bad as you think, ram raids are falling, youth crime and retail crime is down, the cops are winning. BS. I call BS on any of this stuff. Critics can cherry pick their data all they want, they can selectively use time frames that tell the story they want to, and they can exclude crime categories to twist the narrative. They can do any number of things that paint a certain picture.  But what they can't get around is what we're seeing with our own eyes and hearing with our own ears. Last week, I went to a furniture shop in Newmarket's new Westfield mall. Really nice place, nice part of town, the kind of place where you don't expect rampant crime. The guy selling me a couch told me they have people walking out of the store with the Dyson vacuum cleaners in their hands, into the mall and they can't do anything to stop them. He said the same people will steal things in the morning, then come back in the afternoon and do it again- because there are no consequences. In the last year, the dairy down the road from me, the clothing store on the same street and the Glengarry nearby were all ram-raided. I can't recall ever seeing a ram-raid before that, and I've lived in this neighbourhood for 8 years on and off. Michael Hill jeweller has been hit so many times now by guys with hammers, that they've hired security guards for all 34 North Island stores because everything else they've done hasn't worked.  Now I understand that media can whip up a moral panic and I'm wary of being sucked into a false reality. Which is why I've quoted you, not media coverage of crime, but things I've seen and heard and actual concrete steps retailers are being forced to take. It is getting tiring being told this isn't happening when it clearly is. The people telling us it isn't happening need to get with the page. Because we want something to be done, so this can stop. And if they don't like the ideas being pitched, like the juvie detention centres, come up with a different idea. But stop pretending it isn't happening. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retailers are warning insurance hikes in the wake of ram raids and other crime could force many out of business. Retail New Zealand says the rising costs mean more than eighty percent of its members are going underinsured. Bill Hickman reports.

An Auckland Michael Hill has finally closed its doors after multiple ram raid attacks. The Takapuna store's been boarded up since October and is now permanently closing after ten years in the suburb. Takapuna Business Association's Terence Harpur says it was hit about three times over two years. He's sad to see them go. "They just had a really great team, good community feel to it- I mean, they have given up their tenancy, but I'm really pleased another high-end store has quickly grabbed that high-end site." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are investigating at least two burglaries in Auckland overnight - including at a large supermarket in the suburb of Lynfield. Officers were called to Countdown Lynfield, on Hillsborough Rd, shortly before 1am after reports of a break-in.  “A group of offenders have taken multiple items before fleeing from the scene in a vehicle,” a police spokeswoman said. “Police are following positive lines of inquiry to locate those responsible.” A staff member told the Herald they had looked at the security footage and said those involved were youth. There were up to nine people spotted on camera, the worker said. Thieves smashed their way into the Countdown Lynfield supermarket, in Auckland, in the early hours of this morning. Photo / Hayden Woodward Early this morning, police officers could be seen assessing the damage inside the supermarket. Several windows - including at the entrance doors - had been smashed and glass littered the ground inside and outside. It is not yet known exactly what was taken. But cigarette roller packets were spotted on the ground at one of the counters. ‘I don't want to do this job anymore' Police are also looking into a ram raid incident at a liquor store in Wairau Valley. Authorities were called to the Harbour City Liquor Centre, on View Rd, about 2.30am after reports that a vehicle had been used to smash into the store. Police were called to a reported ram-raid incident in Wairau Valley overnight. Photo Hayden Woodward The shocked owner said at the scene: “I honestly don't want to do this job anymore. This is my second ram raid. “Auckland has gone very, very bad.” Police said at this stage, their inquiries are ongoing and are working to determine who is responsible. ‘It starts with shoplifting...and before you know it, you're shipping meth' - Police Minister Police Minister Stuart Nash spoke to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning about crime in New Zealand - and specifically about gang activity. He talked about retail crime as well, acknowledging that it was a big problem. Police Minister Stuart Nash. Photo / NZME “It all starts somewhere - it starts with shoplifting, starts with theft and then you end up in a gang and before you know it, you're shipping meth.  “That's not always the track...but it can be and so it's the reason why we're putting a whole lot of effort and resource into going after the gangs.” On gangs, Nash said: “We are going really, really hard against the gangs. “Every single tool we can use, every man and every woman is going hard against the gangs because we do not want these people doing their dastardly crimes in our community.” He said the gangs were, by and large, responsible for the meth distribution in New Zealand - the reason they were going so hard against them, he reiterated. Can you help? Anyone with information that can help Police with their investigations is urged to contact authorities immediately via 105 or CrimeStoppers Anonymous on 0800 555 111See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alice Springs local Darren Clark has detailed another weekend of "brutal" violence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fa'anānā Efeso Collins joined Petra to chat about freedom. Their conversation touched on what freedom looks like for young people that have been involved with ram raids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A west Auckland service station owner has been left shaken after his business was hit by ram raiders for a third time. And an Auckland liquor store has been hit by thieves three times in just a fortnight. The owner suspects the thieves are the same people. It's been another bad day for some small business owners. Zoe Cartwright has more.

One of the country's oldest family run wine retailers has had a belly full of ram raids on their business, releasing footage of the smash and grabs in a bid to spark some action. Glengarry Wines has been hit 42 times, most in the last 18 months. General manager Liz Wheadon talks to Lisa Owen. 

The National Party says their new policy to deal with youth crime is a result of listening to the victims. It's promising to set up Young Offender Military Academies for 15 to 17-year-olds, if it's elected next year. The party also wants to put electric monitoring devices on children as young as 10-years-old. Police spokesperson, Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking one shop owner he's spoken to has resorted to building his own bollards and sleeping inside his store, to deter ram-raiders. He says too many people are suffering from ram-raids, and it's coming at a huge human cost. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say ram raids are finally starting to trend downwards, as offenders are identified and thrwarted by preventative measures. Business leaders are cautiously optimistic, but some shopkeepers say it doesn't stop their fear or their escalating insurance premiums. Katie Todd has the story.

Over the past five years there's been a 400 percent increase in ram raids on retail outlets all over Aotearoa. Clive Mathew-Wilson says there are some effective ways you can stop your car being targeted to use in the raids.

Police Minister Chris Hipkins has faced the heat from beleaguered business owners in Auckland today, demanding less talk and more action on retail crime. Shopkeepers say relentless ram raids and burglaries are costing them stock, staff, and sleep. Data from the police backs them up. It suggests the problem is continuing to increase. Katie Todd has the story.  

A spate of recent ram-raids in Kāpiti has left business owners on edge and feeling ignored by authorities.  Paekākāriki Village Grocery Store is the latest to be targeted in the early hours of yesterday morning. Our reporter Soumya Bhamidipati and cameraman Angus Dreaver went to visit them.

On this bonus episode National leader Chris Luxon tries to win one lucky listener $5,000!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Jono and Ben podcast, National leader Chris Luxon is in studio to chat all things Ram Raids and also play 5 words! we give away cash once again.   Enjoy your weekend, we will be back on air 17th September!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand for security at retailers is growing amid a series of recent smash and grabs. The eight masked youths who carried out a daylight attack on a jewellery store at St Luke's Mall in Auckland are still yet to be found. Police are appealing for information and any video footage. New Zealand Security Association chief executive Gary Morrison spoke to Susie Ferguson.

A $6 million fund designed to help small business owners hit by ram raids is yet to pay out a single cent. The crime prevention fund was announced in May, by the then-Police Minister Poto Williams. At the time, the minister said it would be used to help vulnerable small retailers identify effective and practical solutions to deter ram raiders. That includes things like fog cannons, security alarms, or screens at the front door. For more on this Lisa Owen talks to reporter Nick Truebridge.

Police are putting extra resources into trying to stop ram raids, which are affecting businesses particularly in Auckland.

Some Rotorua locals say it's only a matter of time before businesses take the law into their own hands to combat a spate of ram raids and other crimes. Frustrated residents and shop owners met with police and political leaders yesterday to air their concerns and urge authorities to take firm action. But as Tom Taylor reports, it's going to take more than just turning Rotorua into "the bollard capital of New Zealand" to address the city's problems.

The boys get deep in ram raids...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another ram raid - this time five youths, the youngest just 12, smashing into a storefront in Auckland overnight. A car ploughed into the Royal Oak Liquor Centre - the police caught three young people at the scene and two nearby. Back in May, then-Police Minister Poto Williams announced a $6 million crime prevention fund to help small businesses hit by ram raiders. But - as Mohammad Alafeshat reports - many retailers haven't heard a thing and only a handful so far in Auckland have had any funding at all to beef up their security.

Police data shows groups of ram raiders are meeting in juvenile detention and the majority are escaping prosecution. There's been a 400 percent increase in ram raids in five years, and three quarters of those caught, are under the age of 18. Katie Todd has the story.  

Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford talks to Lisa Owen about the recent spate of ram raids on retailers.  

Matt walks in on his son cooking meth in the kitchen and the boys check in with "Big Bollard" as ram raids continue... 

Youth-driven ram raids might seem rampant right now, but child welfare experts say locking up offending kids won't help. In the latest smash and grab, a dairy in Onehunga was hit by a stolen vehicle this morning. More than five ram raids a week were reported around the country last year, and 9 in 10 involved involved youths. Sam Olley reports.

Bollard manufacturers are being inundated with queries as the spate of ram raids continues unabated around the country. Councils are also being approached by shop owners who are looking to strengthen their business protection. Jonty Dine has the story.

The spate of ram raids across Tāmaki Makaurau has workers on edge and calling for stronger action. Overnight the Harvey Norman and Huffer stores in Westgate and Ponsonby were burgled and three people have been arrested. There was also a failed break-in at a Takanini mobile phone shop. Jonty Dine has been speaking to store owners. And Huffer's managing director Kate Berry talks to Lisa Owen.

Almost all the children involved in ram raids in recent weeks are not in school, Oranga Tamariki says. Smash and grabs using a car have appeared to be on the rise, with police saying they are often carried out by young people looking for thrills or content for TikTok. Oranga Tamariki youth justice director Ben Hannifin told Checkpoint it is important to point out that youth crime has been declining rapidly over the past 10 years.  

Yummy Yummy!  Male Contraceptive Pill  Top 6: Ram Raids  Silly Little Poll!  BYO Condiments  Bet I Can Guess Your Mums Name!  Hayleys Uber  Fact of the Day Day Day Day Daaaaay!