There are calls for a tougher approach to deal with a core group of 80 youths from Hamilton and Auckland thought to be behind most of the North Island's ram raids.
The Police Association wants some of them incarcerated to protect the community, while Hamilton's Mayor is upset at a lack of action for impacted retailers.
"It's a core group, probably about 80, that are doing the vast majority of the ram raids," said Police Association president Chris Cahill.
The majority are from Auckland, 15 percent from Hamilton, and a handful from Tauranga.
Cahill said members of the group of core offenders were "linked to a degree, certainly by social media and there's a bit of competition amongst themselves as to who can do what".
Hamilton's Mayor Paula Southgate feels her city is missing out on its share of the $6 million fund announced by the Government in May to help retailers with security and prevention equipment, such as bollards, alarms and fog cannons.
"New Zealand is becoming a little bit fed up with crime getting away like this and we need something a lot more serious and at speed, to address it."
Southgate has written to Police Minister Chris Hipkins and has also met face-to-face.
"But I can't get through to him about exactly how much money is coming our way."
One optometrist in Hamilton East hit twice in two months has been measured for "a roller door, fog cannons and toughened 10mm glass", but store manager Gay Hampton said they're still waiting.
"Six weeks is a long time when you feel vulnerable."
In the latest NZ Police figures released to Newshub, only 13 of the 126 retail stores officers have dealt with have had bollards or protective equipment installed or work is underway.
Almost all are in Auckland.
Of the $6 million allocated by the Government to help retailers, just $260,568 has been spent to date on assessments and installations of safety measures.
Cahill said police are busy and it may be more appropriate for community groups or business groups to manage the process so retailers get the help they need quickly.
He added that those doing the ram raids are challenged, disengaged youth often with no whānau and while successive Governments have been unwilling to incarcerate young people, something needs to change.
"Some of those 80, perhaps incarceration is the answer in making sure there are beds for the worst of the offenders, and especially the repeat offenders."
The Police Minister claims more youths are being referred to Oranga Tamariki's residential care facilities.
"And we have seen some of the more persistent offenders being detained for longer," said Hipkins.
