It’s been a hectic week in Cambridge for shoplifting.
We started with a Hamilton man who decided to leave via the entrance, rather than the checkout, at Countdown, taking a number of items with him.
He was observed by a member of the public and followed to Grosvenor St. When caught up with by police a short distance away on Princes St, he scaled a garage, ending up on the roof before surrendering to his arrest. His vehicle was located back at Countdown and proved to have further ‘sought’ alerts on it for other dishonesty offending, including at our own Mitre 10. Drug paraphernalia was also found in the car.
Next, we had a Ngaruawahia based offender, who stole a trolley load of items from Countdown. His car was wanted for nine other similar incidents across the Waikato. He was disturbed by store staff and we located him driving out of town. He fled at high speed and we were unable to apprehended him. Enquiries continue on that one.
Within a couple of hours on that same day, we had three Hamilton offenders attempt to steal from Briscoes. They were deterred by security and made off in a vehicle. Rather than heading for the expressway, however, the trio continued to their next stop, The Warehouse. Their vehicle was spotted by Constable Casey Walker.
Two females now face shoplifting charges and one also faces a further charge for unrelated dishonesty offending.
It is vital that we stay vigilant as a town. The Waikato Expressway provides a fast entry and exit point which out of town which offenders are happy to exploit.
If you as a customer observe people in any businesses acting cagey, concealing items in bags or on their person, please immediately alert store staff or security so that police can be called.
I still remember being in the Warehouse off duty not long after I moved to Cambridge. A woman beside me picked four pairs of sunglasses off the rack (without trying them on – unusual) and walked away down a nearby clothing aisle. I noted she had a large shoulder bag on her shoulder. I kept an eye out for her and sure enough, when she reappeared a couple of minutes later, the sunglasses had magically disappeared (into her bag). I alerted staff.
Thieves may often hover or circle around near the entrance of retail stores with their full basket or shopping trolley. They are waiting on an opportunity for staff to be distracted so they can bolt out the door without paying. They may have accomplices with them to act as just that distraction, requesting information about item in the store.
Let’s keep working together to reduce retail theft.
Senior Constable Deb Hann – On the Beat
