Recently in New Zealand, there has been a mass amount of robberies -
Mainly gas stations, liquor stores and dairies.
And as traumatising as it is for the shopkeepers and employees, the stupid thing about these robberies is the perpetrator's priorities. Do you think their main priority is to steal the money in the till?? Nope.
Their main priority is to bloody steal the cigarettes.
And as much of them as possible.
That, too me, is the most stupidest reason for stealing (not that I condone stealing at all. No way). But when you think about it, these people are willing to sacrifice everything they have for a few packets of ciggies - to either smoke or sell. And thats because the price of cigarettes are uncontrollably high and they just keep rising.
In NZ, the prices of cigarettes increases by 10% every six months. This is a tax increase and is supposed to combat the amount of NZers that smoke. Instead, it has made people crazy. There are so many more people searching the gutters and footpaths for ciggy butts to scab a few puffs out of.
Its made people literally capable of robbing a dairy with the intention to steal as many packets of cigarettes as they possibly can. Its become an issue of desperation - Which is now effecting the community as they attempt to rob our local stores day in and day out. 😖
Win win to you guys aye Govt?
I will admit, I used to smoke once upon a time. I'm glad I stopped though, just over a year or so now. I didnt quit because the price kept rising, although that was a deciding factor for me, but it was because I wanted to control the way I was perceived by others and, especially starting a new job, I wanted people to judge me for what and who I am - And not for what they see me doing.
Some people are definitely a lot more addicted that I was so I can understand it is harder but in saying that - Not only do we need to sort these robberies out and claim safety for one another but all my kiwis, we need to sort this out.