Police have slammed two thieves as "aggressive" and "entitled" after they stole $400 worth of loot from Countdown.
On Sunday, two women stole a shopping trolley of around $400 worth of goods from the Countdown on Silverdale Street at about 1pm.
An eyewitness told the NZ Herald a woman filled up a trolly before pushing it through the entrance to where her accomplice was waiting.
They said two employees tried to stop one of the thieves and in the car park, a bystander took items out of the trolley to stop the pair getting away with them.
Waitematā North area prevention manager Senior Sergeant Roger Small told Newshub police are investigating the "significant theft".
"Police are reviewing CCTV and other video of the incident to assist with their enquiries," Snr Sgt Small said.
"This was a brazen theft and the offenders' attitude towards supermarket staff was one of entitlement and aggression."
According to data from Foodstuffs, Countdown's competitor, retail crime has hit new highs.
The data found a 38.2 percent increase in retail crime in the North Island between February and April this year - an average of 37 crimes a day.
Chief executive of Foodstuffs North Island Chris Quin said the 320 local grocers in the Foodstuffs North Island co-operative have "never seen retail crime at these levels".
"It's an extremely concerning trend and it's unacceptable."
A huge 3285 incidents of retail crime were reported across Foodstuffs North Island from February to April 2023, compared to 2377 incidents in the same quarter in 2022.
