A second person has been arrested over alleged involvement in the theft and distribution of dozens of chocolate bars in Auckland.
Last Friday, an Auckland city retailer was charged with receiving more than 50 stolen Whittaker's chocolate bars, taken from a supermarket. Before that, a woman was arrested in Papakura after allegedly stealing a dozen boxes of scorched almonds.
Last night, police team arrested a second person over the Whittaker's incident after an off-duty officer spotted the man.
The off-duty officer alerted other police.
"The man was approached by staff and was placed under arrest, before he ran on foot," said Inspector Dave Christoffersen. "Unfortunately for him, our Beat Team were patrolling and chased this man on foot before arresting him on Albert St.
"The 38-year-old man is facing three charges of shoplifting, escapes custody as well as unrelated charges."
The shoplifting charges were connected to the Whittaker's bars.
The arrested man would be appearing in Auckland District Court Today, Christoffersen said. "We are opposing his bail," he added.
The latest charges follow hundreds of other laid relating to retail crime in Auckland’s central city in recent months, police said. Retailers were reminded that buying stolen goods was an offence.
"Retailers need to be very aware that if they are being approached to buy goods at a very low price that they very well may be dealing in stolen property," Christoffersen said.
"Our teams are continuing to lay charges for the initial offending, but we are also investigating where these items are being distributed.
"Police will continue to lay charges for theft or receiving offences where these are appropriate."
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