Police have charged two women with 29 counts of theft after the pair was remanded in custody for alleged shoplifting at Auckland supermarkets.
The women, 22 and 26, were allegedly responsible for stealing more than $40,000 of goods in the past two months.
"The arrests were a result of a great coordinated response from our frontline staff and investigators, holding these high-volume offenders to account and preventing further victimisation," said Senior Sergeant Guy Baldwin, district training and professional development manager.
Recently graduated Tāmaki Makaurau police officers arrested the women last week after spotting a car driving with a smashed rear windscreen.
When police stopped the car, they recognised the women occupants as being wanted in relation to several thefts.
The NRISU (National Retail Investigation Support Unit) has been working to link alleged supermarket crimes across the supercity.
Matt Tierney, NRISU manager, said the unit "has charged 289 offenders with 1583 charges since it began service in November 2021."
The NRISU put together reported offences to help police locate potential suspects.
"We will continue to target recidivist retail offending in partnership with our Police colleagues to hold those responsible to account.
"We'd like to thank retailers and the community for alerting Police to many of these offences.”
The pair will appear at Auckland District Court in late September.
