These days, running a local dairy is a risky occupation.
And it’s not just corner stores. Any business dealing with cash, cigarettes or alcohol is increasingly a target for violent crime.
Heck, last year there were over 1200 aggravated robberies at dairies and petrol stations around NZ. That’s up 87 percent on the previous 12 months.
Scary times for small retailers.
And that’s why the Government and NZ Police are taking action.
Introducing fog cannon security subsidies for at-risk dairies.
Last week, Police Minister Stuart Nash announced the Government will heavily subsidise the price of a fog cannon.
A fog cannon is a clever piece of security kit. Activated by an alarm, the fog cannon fills the store with dense fog in seconds. The offenders are unable to see anything inside the shop and therefore can’t grab any high-value items. Generally, they’ll make a hasty retreat. But if not, the fog allows employees to retreat to a safe place and lessens the risk of being a target of violence.
Retailers identified by police to be at risk of robberies will get a massive subsidy. They’ll pay as little as $250 for the $4000 system.
This is great news for those at-risk businesses.
If your business is eligible for the funding, investing $250 for a fog cannon will be money well spent. The element of surprise will foil many attacks, and the fog will limit stock losses too.
And even if you’re not eligible for the funding, it’s probably a good time to look into the best security options for your business. Because let’s face it, those crime stats aren’t great. Fog cannons are just one of a number of cost-effective solutions available.
But security solutions aside, your key strategy should be never put yourself at risk. Stuff can be replaced. People can’t.
Whether it’s a fog cannon, alarm system, or CCTV system, we can work out the best, most cost-effective security options for your business.
Interested to find out more? Give me (Gavin) a call on 027 578 1298
Read more from our blog on: How to protect your staff from armed robbers