Liquor Centre owner Wendy Morrison said crime rates in the city are at "crisis point". Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
A fed up Christchurch business owner says she feels violated and believes crime in the city has reached "crisis point".
It follows another flurry of break ins around the city with nine businesses targeted overnight.
Some happened in the electorate of government minister Megan Woods, who concedes there is a crime problem in her hometown.
Police were first called to a robbery at the Cranford Ale House in St Albans at about 9.15pm on Sunday.
But it was a three-hour period between 3.30am and 6.30am on Monday where the break ins swelled with eight commercial premises targeted.
Hornby's Liquor Centre was one of many that awoke to a clean-up this morning after a group of offenders took to its premises with an axe shortly after 4am.
Although a fog cannon repelled the mob, the store was left with thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Hornby's Liquor Centre was smashed with an axe, one of several businesses targeted this morning. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
Owner Wendy Morrison said the problem was as bad as ever.
"This is not normal. I've been in this business now for 26-27 years, I've owned it for four years, and in those four years I have seen a dramatic increase in all sorts of crimes to do with businesses like this.
"We never experienced anything like it."
Morrison said a lack of consequences was a major ingredient and believed legislative changes were required.
"There is nothing there to actually say to these guys 'hey you can't do this and get away with it'.
"At the moment, all they're being told is 'we can do this, we can get away with it'.
"What are we left, we're left with the cleaning up bills, the fear that your staff have going when something like this happens, you're dealing with that as well.
"There's nothing to say they won't come here in daylight."
She said things like fog cannons had been effective, but "a lot more needs to be done".
Two stores in Halswell were broken into. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
Glass was left strewn along the pavement of Halswell's Lillian Street after a fish and chip shop and an adjoining hair salon were broken into on Monday morning at about 6.30am.
Cherie Lee, who co-owns a neighbouring dairy, said she was worried.
"It's really hard to run a business at the moment, especially a small business, because all of the costs are going up.
"And if safety isn't being provided and no staff want to come (and work for us).
"And then we're worrying 24 hours a day."
Premises in Wigram, including the New World supermarket, were also broken into.
The city councillor for the Hornby ward, Mark Peters, called for a greater police presence out west.
"I think a visible presence of police would be a big deterrent for people doing this and having them based out west would be a good start."
He said he had implored mayor Phil Mauger to discuss this prospect with Canterbury metro area commander Superintendent Lane Todd so the area "could have half a chance".
Peters also echoed concerns from businesses of a more robust response from the government.
The entry to New World in Wigram, bordered up after its doors were smashed with an axe. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
MP for Wigram, Dr Megan Woods, said her "heart sunk" after waking up to more reports of crime in the city when RNZ spoke to her earlier today.
"I think everyone acknowledges there is a problem," she said.
"One of the things I was happy to see in this year's Budget, the intensive youth programme is being rolled out in Hamilton and Christchurch and is moving beyond Auckland.
"We do have a need for it in Christchurch."
Woods said she had spoken with Police Minister Ginny Anderson about the youth programme rollout today.
But National's Justice and acting police spokesperson Paul Goldsmith accused the minister of downplaying crime rates because they were "easier to report".
"Despite this, the minister is dismissing Kiwis' real concerns that crime is rising to suggest that it's because it's easier to report offending," he said.
"If that is what she believes, she needs to get out and meet a few retailers and ask if they think that crime rates have not increased."
