Police Arrest Two Youths in Connection to Blenheim Vape Shop Ramraid

Hot Boxx, a vape shop on Charles St in central Blenheim, was ramraided on Wednesday night. The shop owner, Karn Bir, said his security camera recorded footage of a car crashing into the store before two young people got out and started grabbing items from the store. This was the sixth time the shop has been targeted in less than a year, and the fourth time in the past month. The incident led to the arrest of two youths, who were referred to Youth Services. This article will explore the incident in more detail and provide insights into the ongoing police investigation.

The Ramraid Incident

According to Karn Bir, the security camera footage showed a car driving into the shop at around 9.40 pm on Wednesday night. Two young people jumped out of the car and started grabbing items from the store. The car's front end had smashed into the shop, and the windows were shattered, with the front door frame snapped in half. A wing mirror had been left behind at the scene. The police were notified of the incident, but the offenders had already fled the scene in a stolen vehicle before the police arrived.

Arrests and Ongoing Investigation

The police tracked down the stolen car and arrested two youths who had abandoned the vehicle. The two had also been involved in stealing several vehicles in the Marlborough area over the past month, including two in the past 24 hours. The youths were referred to Youth Services, and enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing. Four young people were arrested earlier this month after the vape shop was broken into three times within a week, with the most recent break-in on March 25.

Recurring Targeting

Karn Bir is unsure why his shop has been repeatedly targeted. He mentioned that the same cabinets were being targeted each time the store was broken into. The shop owner estimated that the offenders took up to $4000 worth of vaping products, mostly consisting of disposable vapes, on Wednesday night. He lost up to $3000 worth of vaping products after being targeted on March 16. The police executed a search warrant at a Blenheim property on March 26 and recovered some of the items.

Impact on Local Business

Toni McLaughlan, co-owner of The Little Cafe on Charles, located two doors down from Hot Boxx, said it was the first time she could recall a business being ramraided in Blenheim. She expressed her concern for the local businesses who are trying to make a living in the area. McLaughlan said when she saw the damage done to Hot Boxx on Thursday morning, she thought to herself, "not again." The incident has forced the closure of one lane of the road outside the store, and the badly damaged front of the shop is being dismantled.

Conclusion

The Blenheim vape shop ramraid incident has shocked the local community and raised concerns about the safety and security of local businesses. The incident has forced the closure of the store, and the shop owner has suffered significant losses as a result. The police investigation into the incident and the suspects involved is ongoing, and more information is expected to come to light soon.

FAQs

1. What is a ramraid incident?
   A ramraid incident is a type of burglary where a vehicle is used to crash into a building to gain access to the property.
2. How many times has Hot Boxx been targeted in the past month?
   Hot Boxx has been targeted four times in the past month.
3. What was stolen from Hot Boxx during the ramraid incident?
   The offenders took up to $4000 worth of vaping products, consisting mainly of disposable vapes, from Hot Boxx during the ramraid incident.
4. What is the impact of the incident on local businesses?
   The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of local businesses. It has forced the closure of one lane of the road outside the store, and the badly damaged front of the shop is being dismantled. The co-owner of The Little Cafe on Charles, located two doors down from Hot Boxx, expressed her concern for the local businesses who are trying to make a living in the area.
5. What is the police investigation about?
   The police investigation is ongoing, and they are looking into the circumstances of the incident and the suspects involved. The suspects are also believed to have been involved in the theft of several vehicles in the Marlborough area over the past month, including two in the past 24 hours.