Purpose

A large increase in robberies of convenience stores in New Zealand (NZ) in 2016 and 2017 was anecdotally attributed to persistent and substantial increases in excise tax on tobacco products. This study aims to explore the validity of that claim by examining the characteristics of the robberies through the lens of online news coverage.

Design/methodology/approach

Google, Bing and main online NZ news outlets were searched for news reports between 2009 and 2018 of tobacco-related store robberies. Content analysis was used to extract characteristics such as date of robbery, type of store, items targeted or stolen and demographic profile of offenders. The prevalence of reported robberies by socioeconomic level of the surrounding community was assessed using nearest primary school decile rating. Descriptive statistics and statistical analysis were used to discuss trends and key findings in the data.

Findings

Reports on 572 robberies were unevenly distributed across the years with a large increase in 2016 and 2017, followed by a substantial decrease in 2018. Local community convenience stores were primarily hit – more so in lower socioeconomic communities. Robberies occurred nationwide and disproportionately so during colder months in lower socioeconomic communities. Many robberies were aggravated resulting in serious injury to shopkeepers. Tobacco and cash were predominantly targeted.

Social implications

The large increase in robberies that occurred in 2016–2017 likely resulted from tax-driven tobacco price hikes combined with reduced duty-free tobacco coming into NZ with travellers. Installation of security in stores, news fatigue and other explanations are potential reasons for the 2018 decrease in reported robberies despite tobacco prices increasing. Frequent robberies of local stores, many including violence, should be a public health concern as destruction of community well-being can be a determinant of other health problems. The negative consequences for communities, particularly lower socioeconomic communities, need to be factored into the cost benefit analysis of raising the tax on tobacco.

Originality/value

This study provides much needed detail on the negative health and social consequences of tobacco-related store robberies.

中文翻译：

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价格上涨、犯罪时尚还是政治足球？是什么导致新西兰卷烟商店抢劫案激增：新闻报道分析（2009-2018）

目的

2016 年和 2017 年新西兰 (NZ) 便利店抢劫案大幅增加，据传是由于烟草产品消费税持续大幅增加。本研究旨在通过在线新闻报道的视角检查抢劫案的特征，从而探索该主张的有效性。

设计/方法/方法

谷歌、必应和新西兰主要在线新闻媒体都在搜索 2009 年至 2018 年期间与烟草相关的商店抢劫案的新闻报道。内容分析用于提取特征，例如抢劫日期、商店类型、目标或被盗物品以及罪犯的人口统计资料。使用最近的小学十分位等级评估了周围社区社会经济水平报告的抢劫案发生率。描述性统计和统计分析用于讨论数据中的趋势和关键发现。

发现

572 起抢劫案的报告多年来分布不均，2016 年和 2017 年大幅增加，随后在 2018 年大幅减少。当地社区便利店受到的打击主要是——在社会经济地位较低的社区更是如此。抢劫在全国范围内发生，而且在社会经济地位较低的社区较冷的月份发生的情况不成比例。许多抢劫案愈演愈烈，导致店主受重伤。烟草和现金主要是目标。

社会影响

2016 年至 2017 年发生的抢劫案大幅增加，可能是由于税收驱动的烟草价格上涨以及与旅客一起进入新西兰的免税烟草减少所致。尽管烟草价格上涨，但在商店安装保安、新闻疲劳和其他解释是 2018 年报告的抢劫案减少的潜在原因。当地商店的频繁抢劫，其中许多包括暴力，应该是一个公共卫生问题，因为社区福祉的破坏可能是其他健康问题的决定因素。对社区，尤其是社会经济地位较低的社区的负面影响，需要在提高烟草税的成本效益分析中考虑在内。

原创性/价值

这项研究提供了有关与烟草相关的商店抢劫的负面健康和社会后果的急需的详细信息。