In the past few months there have been over 60 robberies at service stations from Northland to Dunedin. Cigarettes and cash are the prime targets. Most have taken place in the upper North Island and in many cases, service station staff have been threatened by groups armed with knives, bats and other weapons. In Taradale, in August, a service station attendant was slashed by a machete during a robbery.

Around the country, service station operators are beefing up their security measures in an effort to protect their staff and customers.

KEEP CALM

Knowing what to do during a robbery can help reduce the risk to staff and customers. MTA has partnered with RISQ New Zealand, an Auckland-based security company to offer a training package to members.

Managing Director of RISQ Bruce Couper says the best advice he has for anyone being robbed is to stay calm, don’t make eye contact, listen carefully and do exactly what you’re told. “If you do notice some detail that might help identify the attacker then make a mental note – perhaps there’s a tattoo on his hands or his clothing has an unusual logo or something.”

Bruce, who is a former police officer, says the current spate of robberies is similar to the string of bank robberies carried out in the early 1990s. “The banks made themselves a much harder target and the robberies dropped away. Service stations are now also making it harder for ram raiders and robbers to get in and get what they want. Bollards outside the buildings stop cars from driving through glass frontages, security film on glass makes it harder for them to smash their way in, it gives the cashier time to get into a hardened safe area – behind a secure door. Preferably that area will have a CTV monitor and a landline to call 111. That room may also have a remote activation for a fog cannon which can quickly fill the store with smoke.”

She says her role within the group was to work with them on prevention and to help get the best possible response from local police and forensic staff.

“For instance, to help prevent these crimes, we advise service station staff to ring the police if they think they are being cased. Staff should also carry a mobile phone in their pocket, so if something happens they can run to safety and still make a 111 call. Once they’re safe it may be possible to watch what’s happening and make a few notes.”

After a robbery, she says, it may be necessary to clean up fairly quickly. “So if you spot any fingerprints or blood, protect that area and put aside any objects they’ve touched, until our scene of crime officers arrive.” Police believe the offenders are stealing to order and know where they’re going to offload the cigarettes and tobacco they take. Some may be using the proceeds to fuel their P addictions.

As the service stations become more difficult to rob, Dr Gardner says it’s likely the offenders will move on to smaller businesses and police are also working closely with these operators. Gull Chief Operating Officer Ulrick Olsen said his company is steadily hardening up its sites around the country.

“We’re making it harder for people to get in – using bollards to prevent ram raids and fog cannon that can be triggered by staff from a safe room. Security guards are also now stationed on many Auckland forecourts at night.” Gull recently began rolling out cigarette dispensers that are triggered via a sale at the till to release one packet at a time. The cigarettes are stored inside the equivalent of a steel safe. Each dispenser is worth around $30,000 and all Gull stations are being supplied with them.

“It’s about taking the prize away. Money has always been stored in a safe now cigarettes are too.” Z has also installed its first cigarette dispenser.