Criminals Active after rise in Tobacco Tax

Criminals Active after rise in Tobacco Tax

Three days after the Government forced through a significant tax increase on tobacco products, a Palmerston North retailer was robbed at gunpoint by four balaclava-clad men.

The Association of Community Retailers stated publicly on Friday that the increase in tax excise would lead to more robberies of retail premises selling tobacco. The criminals who robbed the Gloriana Dairy in Highbury, Palmerston North, last night got away with cash and a significant amount of tobacco.

“Tobacco is now a valuable commodity for criminals. They don’t need to rob a bank for a mere $5000 when it’s easier to rob a dairy of double that amount of value in tobacco products,” said ACR tobacco spokesman, Richard Green.

Mr Green said that he was woken up at 4am on Sunday morning when the alarms of his Discount Tobacco store sounded after someone had tried to break into the shop.

“There are two significant occurrences that will increase the security risks for dairy and convenience store owners, as well as tobacconists like me. The first was the increase in tobacco excise by the Government last week and the second is the current proposal by the Ministry of Health to outlaw tobacco displays.

“Those could very well be a deadly combination for an innocent retailer.

“If tobacco displays are banned throughout the country, it will be nothing for a couple of criminals to walk into my shop, close the door, assault me and steal my tobacco stock – all without being seen because my windows will have to be blacked out under the new rules,” Mr Green said.

ENDS