Government’s $6 million programme to protect business premises welcomed by MTA.
Service stations have been victims in the current spate of ram raids and robberies, so funding for protection measures will help keep them safe, says the Motor Trade Association (MTA)
The government has announced a $6 million programme for small businesses to protect themselves from ram raids by installing measures, such as security fog devices, alarms, and screens.
Ian Baggott, the MTA’s sector manager for energy and the environment, says ram raids and burglaries are frightening and costly for owners and operators of service stations
“Anything to keep people safe is welcome, so we appreciate this announcement,” he says. “Hopefully, the fund is big enough and not mired in red tape so businesses can get the protection they need quickly.”
One MTA member, who owns a service station, has been hit by burglars four times over a seven-week period with the intruders targeting vaping products.
The owner says bollards across the front of the premises protected them from ram raids, but the offenders smashed open the doors with hammers.
A security fog device was activated during two of the raids, pictured, and the thieves were forced to flee without taking anything. Says the owner: “It’s important to keep fog devices regularly maintained, but they do work.”
About half of the country’s service stations are run by small independent or franchise operators. Under previous government funding, the cost of installing a fog cannon was reduced from up to $4,000 to $250.
Keyword: Funding to stop ram raids