Christchurch business owners fear crime spike with cigarette price riseJOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF.CO.NZ Hemant Chauhan speaks about being a victim of crimeChristchurch liquor store and dairy owners fear a January hike in cigarette prices will fuel more aggravated robberies. Christchurch Hills Rd dairy owner Hemant Chauhan​ says he feels like a "sitting duck" every day. READ MORE:* Tobacco black market fuels crime wave in Christchurch* $20k of jewellery stolen in overnight burglary spate in Christchurch* Crime surge in Christchurch linked to lack of police foot patrols - Labour​"I feel intimidated all the time ... We are sitting ducks here." Canterbury district commander Superintendent John Price said police were doing the best they could to work with business owners and had offered crime prevention advice. Price said Canterbury's 20-year trend showed crime was tracking down and there was four per cent less crime than what there was in the same time last year.

Source: Stuff December 04, 2016 06:01 UTC