Pooja Jewellers in Papatoetoe, Auckland, has reopened after a violent robbery in June left its owner, Gurdeep Singh, hospitalised.
During the robbery, Singh was struck in the head with a hammer by a group of offenders while his family sought refuge at the back of the store. Singh’s son intervened, chasing the perpetrators away with a sword. Following the attack, Singh has been recovering both physically and emotionally.
Owner’s Recovery and Reflections
Singh has shared his ongoing struggles in the aftermath of the incident. “Physically, I’m much better – feeling good,” Singh noted. Despite physical improvements, he continues to experience headaches and a sense of vulnerability. “When I’m walking up and down the road, I look at the front, look at the back, and I just make sure that nobody’s following me, nobody’s up there who’s going to punch me… This is not the environment that I want me or my family to be [living] in,” he added.
Law Enforcement and Legal Considerations
Following the robbery, five individuals were arrested, including a 16-year-old charged with aggravated robbery. Singh emphasised the need for stronger mechanisms to target not only the perpetrators but also the networks that facilitate such crimes. “There’s somebody out there buying it… We need to change laws, we need to have some kind of mechanism, some kind of tool to dig deeper and find out what’s happening,” Singh said.
Community and Government Response
The reopening saw support from community members and officials, including Minister for Ethnic Communities Melissa Lee. “When the incident happened, for the family, it was devastating for them,” Lee remarked, highlighting the community’s support for the Singh family. Lee also mentioned the government’s initiatives like the upcoming boot camps for young repeat offenders, which aim to instill responsibility and reduce recidivism.
Implications for the Jewellery Industry
The incident at Pooja Jewellers underscores the vulnerabilities jewellers face regarding retail crime. It calls for enhanced security measures and legislative support to protect businesses and their employees. Singh’s experience highlights the physical and psychological impacts of such incidents, prompting discussions on best practices for security and crime prevention.
