CCTV captures threats, violence in NZ supermarkets as thefts rise

Chocolate, meat, mayonnaise, cosmetics, and pain relief are at the top of the grocery list for thieves.

Police data released to 1News under the Official Information Act showed supermarket crime had surged by 452% since 2018 – with nearly 38,000 incidents reported last year alone.

In the first six months of 2026, the number of victimisations was over 17,000, with the resolution rate sitting at 25%.

Police Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny said the reporting system has been improved, making it easier for incidents to be logged.

She also pointed to the national retail investigation support unit that was targeting recidivist repeat shoplifters.

"One is a drive of necessity where people are stealing to feed themselves and their families. The other is a drive of addiction and the other thing that we're really seeing is a drive for a demand in theft or order."

CCTV captures customer violence in NZ supermarkets as thefts rise – Watch on TVNZ+

The rise in supermarket crime was matched by a fall in resolution rates. In 2018, police resolved one in three offences, which dropped last year to one in five.

"We're getting a far better appreciation of how much crime there actually is in relation to retail theft," Penny said.

"And the good thing is, since Commissioner [Richard] Chambers has come in, we've had a very clear focus on the uplift of resolutions."

Woolworths' general manager for safety, health and wellbeing, Denva Wren, said the spike in thefts had also come with increased violence and aggression.

She said staff members were confronted daily with abuse and, in some cases, were being threatened with knives, hammers and machetes.

The supermarket giant was upping protective measures by rolling out body cameras for staff and adding safe rooms and number plate recognition technology to catch the culprits.

"We have significantly invested in a number of controls to help protect our team, protect our stores, protect our customers and communities," Wren said.