A Christchurch business owner says some local owners are living in at their business trying to deter break ins.

The man, who wants to remain anonymous, claims Sydenham businesses are being targeted by criminals.

He says most neighbourhood businesses are getting tampered with, broken into and having things pinched, but some are scared to report the incidents.

"Because it could be gang related, and they'll be targeted. People are frightened, people are getting intimated by criminals."

The man says his company's been broken into multiples times - and locals are spending thousands of dollars upgrading security - to no avail.

"Nothing's safe. It's not just the thieving, it's the tagging. There are bad people floating around at night time."

He says it's not rewarding enough to putting up with the worry when he's spending money on surveillance cameras and alarm systems and after multiple break ins.

"It's hard enough running a business and paying staff and trying to find the work, as well as when you go home you've got to worry about if your business is safe when you're not there."

He is disappointed with a lack of police response, and says it's time they took the law into their own hands.