Foodstuffs NZ, the owner of the New World, Pak’nSave, and Four Square grocery chains, has reported a significant uptick in retail crime in the North Island between February and April of this year. 

Foodstuffs reports that serious occurrences including robberies, assaults, and other violent, threatening, and aggressive behaviour are up 36 per cent for the quarter year over year. 

“Our grocers have never seen retail crime at these levels. It’s an extremely concerning trend and it’s unacceptable,” says Chris Quin, CEO at Foodstuffs North Island.

“Retail crime is coming through the front doors of grocery stores and impacting our teams every day. Grocers are focussed on keeping their people safe and that means investing in de-escalation and conflict management training and helping people to cope in a situation which involves aggression.” 

Compared to the February to April quarter of last year, there were 57 per cent more instances of theft, and grocery store owners report that shoplifters are getting more aggressive and violent. The number of repeat criminals has climbed by 34 per cent since last year, and they are responsible for 36 per cent of all retail crime events.

Foodstuffs NZ says that over the course of several weeks, one repeat offender took 31 whole eye, scotch, and sirloin fillets worth more than $3200. Security experts believe the behaviour suggests the meat was being stolen to order or on-sold.

Further reading: Foodstuffs North Island opens cross dock and depot facility in Hastings