Ultra-sonic sirens, fog cannons and DNA spray are among the arsenal of security measures police are beginning to install at dairies to deter aggravated robberies.
Photo: RNZ / YouTube
The creation of a $1.8 million fund was announced earlier this year to help with security at dairies and liquor stores that have been subject to such crimes.
Dairy owners complained to RNZ earlier this week that they had not seen a cent of a fund yet, despite having been violently robbed.
Police said then that security equipment had been installed in some stores, but could not say how many, or how much of the money had been distributed.
Police have now confirmed that 54 small businesses have tentatively agreed to be part of the scheme and two have had the suite of security options installed.
National prevention centre manager Eric Tibbott said that included ultra-sonic sirens, fog cannons and DNA spray.
"We know that these business owners are feeling vulnerable and this is not acceptable.
"We have seen some shocking footage of violence that people are experiencing and we are determined to help make people feel safe."
Police had engaged a vendor to provide the security equipment and were working through the logistics of installing the gear, he said.
Mr Tibbott said the stores were identified according to whether they had been previously targeted and their proximity to high-risk areas.