Two women have been arrested following a string of shoplifting and assault incidents in Auckland, including allegedly spraying disinfectant into the face of security guards.
A 24-year-old woman is due to appear in the Manukau District Court on Friday, facing six shoplifting charges and two charges of aggravated assault after an incident at a commercial address in Takanini.
A 34-year-old woman was taken into custody yesterday as she was wanted as a person of interest following recent shoplifting incidents in Papakura and Manukau.
Officers were making inquiries into another person of interest when they noticed the woman in a vehicle of interest in Papakura, linked to a recent shoplifting offence.
Counties Manukau South Area Prevention Manager Inspector Matt Hoyes said it was soon discovered that she was wanted for three alleged incidents of shoplifting and assault.
"The first was an incident on 12 November where the employee of a store in Manukau was assaulted and threatened with a baseball bat.
"The second was an incident at a supermarket in Manukau on Saturday 29 November, where she is alleged to have assaulted employees by throwing glass jars at them before fleeing with a trolley-full of stolen goods.
"The third incident was again at a supermarket in Manukau yesterday, Tuesday 5 December, where she is alleged to have threatened and assaulted employees with a hammer before decamping with another trolley-full of stolen products," Hoyes said.
The woman is being held in custody and is due to appear in the Manukau District Court today, facing three charges of shoplifting, three of assault with a blunt instrument, and one of aggravated assault.
Hoyes said police are patrolling with a specific focus on supermarkets and other major retailers.
"Police and retailers cannot prevent crime alone and rely on the help of the community to stop this illegal activity and the social harm it causes," he said.
Counties Manukau Police also encourage members of the public to continue reporting suspicious behaviour in and around shops and malls to a member of staff, security, or police through 111 or Crime Stoppers.
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