Police say they are increasing patrols of shopping centres and malls this weekend after a dramatic smash-and-grab robbery last night left panicked shoppers fleeing.
Hundreds of shoppers reportedly fled as a masked group robbed a jewellery store at the Westfield Albany mall in Auckland Friday night.
A jewellery store worker at the mall said a group of men ran into the shopping centre and smashed cabinets at the Michael Hill Jeweller store.
Police said they are increasing foot and vehicle patrols, also timed for the start of school holidays this weekend.
"We acknowledge there have been incidents at some shopping centres during opening hours recently, which has rightly caused concern amongst the community," they said in a statement.
The member of Parliament for Auckland's North Shore said aggravated retail robberies are an endemic social crisis the police minister must address.
Simon Watts said he wrote to Police Minister Chris Hipkins a month ago expressing concern about increasing retail crime.
"To date the minister hasn't responded to that letter. The minister needs to step up to the plate, take accountability and start delivering proper outcomes for our community to keep them safe."
Watts said it is a matter of time before retail robberies result in tragedy.
Police said they work regularly with management and security at shopping centres to help keep stores secure.
"There continue to be individuals within our communities who think it is acceptable to unlawfully take property and threaten or harm others," they said.
RNZ
