Tuesday, 2 May 2023 - 4:19pm

Retail blitz

1 min read

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One of the offenders caught on camera. Their face has been pixelated.

An alarmingly active bunch of shoplifters has drawn an equally active response from police across Southern District.

Otago Coastal Prevention Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond says the efficiency of staff, and the communication and collaboration across workgroups has contributed to some very impressive results recently.

“In just over four weeks our people have managed to make nine key arrests of some very prolific retail theft offenders,” says Anthony. “We’re talking about 102 charges that reflect close to $50,000 worth of retail theft.”

The incredibly swift work and concentrated clampdown has not only worked to build trust and confidence from the affected businesses, but has also removed substantial risk from Southern communities.

“Among those arrested were people with other significant active charges, including violence, threats and failing to appear,” says Anthony. “So it’s great that our work around retail crime will hold these significant offenders to account.

“Our Public Safety Team staff and community officers in Dunedin, in particular, have been so diligent in this space and have worked extremely well with our Investigation Support Unit.”