Ram Raids are now at “epidemic levels” in New Zealand, with a spike in cases over the past year.
Shop owners have been left traumatized, with some beginning to question “why they even bother” to keep a business open.
One Auckland liquor store owner who has endured four burglaries and a ram-raid in the past 6 months is now even sleeping in his shop to deter thieves.
Many are now turning to safety bollards as a final preventative solution to this wave of attacks on their properties.
The rise of ram raids in New Zealand
Data released by police under the Official Information Act showed within the first 11 months of 2021, dairy and convenience store theft was up 30% from the year before, and burglaries were up nearly 20%.
Auckland was the worst-hit region, with retail offences rising by 25.8%.
Targets aren’t just local dairies on the outskirts of the city, but high-end retail stores in the CBD like Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
Ram raids are an almost daily occurrence in Auckland with police revealing the majority of offenders, 88%, are under the age of 20, with most as young as 17 and some even as young as 11 years old.
The police have a “no chase rule” in place to cut down on fatalities, which many people believe only emboldens young offenders.
Steel safety bollards
To combat ram raid attacks on their businesses, many shop owners are installing safety bollards outside the store.
In response to the crime wave, Auckland Transport is streamlining the process for businesses to apply for bollards and other security measures.
General bollard requirements include:
- Bollards should be installed directly outside the building (within 500 millimetres of the building).
- The minimum height for bollards is 1000 millimetres.
- Bollards must have a colour contrast to the existing environment. For example, black is not considered a suitable contrast if the background is a dark colour.
- Footpaths need to have at minimum 1.8 metres clearance. Obstacles and hazards must be kept clear of the main travel route for pedestrians – especially for visually impaired (low vision) or blind pedestrians.
How we can help
Pallet Racking Solutions provide a range of steel safety bollards which can be used to protect business premises.
We have a variety of different sizes and materials available depending on your installation needs including powder coated steel, galvanised and stainless steel.
The four-bolt connection means our bollards are easy to install yourself or we have a team of installers nationwide that can take care of that or you. It also means you can facilitate unobstructed access if required.
Types of bollards
Powder Coated Steel Safety Bollard
The powder coated steel finish resists rust and scratches, and are ideal as protection and deterrents with their bright yellow exterior giving high visibility. At over one metre high they easily meet the minimum government height requirements.
Galvanised Steel Safety Bollard
Ideal for exterior installations, these bollards are finished with galvanised steel, protecting against corrosion making them ideal as protection and deterrents for outdoors in the elements.
Stainless Steel Safety Bollards
These stainless steel bollards are ideal for retail spaces, supermarkets, airports, malls, commercial office space and food storage areas. They are more designed to sit inside a premises, rather than outside, but their reflective stripes provide high visibility and act as a deterrent for any would-be ram raiders.
Avoid being the victim of Ram Raids with safety bollards
Ram Raids are on the rise, and with no real deterrent to offenders, there’s no sign of them stopping.
They are unpredictable, cause immense damage, and can shut down a business for good.
Like all crimes, the best you can do to avoid being a victim is to not make it easy for your attacker.
Criminals will always go for the weakest link, the softest target, and safety bollards are an easy way to make life difficult for them.
We can help advise you on which safety bollards to use and how to install them. Our experts have been providing and installing safety bollards in warehouses and factories for years, and they do the same job outside a high street store.
Contact us today if you would like to know more about our steel safety bollards, and one of our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Pallet Racking Solutions designs, supplies and installs quality pallet racking and warehouse storage solutions, New Zealand wide. Follow our blog for the latest innovations, new tech, safety and compliance, case studies and in-depth explanations of our solutions.