Three members of the same family have been arrested on Tuesday, after allegedly stealing more than $16,000 of groceries in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland.
It comes as police separately arrested three men, also on Tuesday, after allegedly stealing $750 worth of meat from a Pukekohe supermarket.
The three family members allegedly stole six trolley loads filled with goods from a supermarket in Highland Park on Sunday, just before 4.30pm.
Police arrived quickly after staff contacted them, while the thieves were loading the groceries into their car.
Inspector Rakana Cook said customers told staff what was going on after seeing the thieves walk out without paying.
“Police arrived at about 4.30pm and witnessed the trio walking out with another trolley load of items," said Insp Cook.
Officers then arrested a woman, 25, and her brother, 35, as they tried to flee on foot.
“A third person, a son of one of the other’s [arrested], was taken into custody after being stopped a short distance away with a carload of groceries."
The woman will reappear in the Manukau District Court on April 15, facing one shoplifting charge, while the man will make his first appearance at the same court on March 28 to face three shoplifting charges.
The third person arrested, an 18-year-old, will appear at a later date.
Three men arrested after stealing $750 of meat
In a similar shoplifting case, police also arrested three men on Tuesday after allegedly stealing $750 worth of meat from a Pukekohe supermarket.
The trio stole the meat from an unnamed store on Manukau Road at about midday on Saturday.
Inspector Joe Hunter said the three men allegedly filled a trolley with meat and walked through the self-checkout without paying.
They also threatened a member of the public on the way out.
"The offenders left the store and loaded the stolen meat into a vehicle in the car park and drove away," Insp Hunter said.
A member of the public then dobbed the thieves into police.
"I would like to acknowledge the person who noted the number plate of the alleged offenders’ vehicle and passed this onto Police," he said.
Later on, a police patrol unit spotted the vehicle in Drury, and signalled the driver to pull over, which he did.
"And the stolen meat was found inside," Insp Hunter said.
The meat was eventually returned to the supermarket.
In addition, police laid charges against the three men over a separate theft from a Pōkeno supermarket last Thursday. They stole about $1000 worth of meat.
The trio are set to appear in the Pukekohe District Court on Wednesday.
The men aged 39 and 25 face several shoplifting charges, while the third man, 28, faces shoplifting charges and another charge of speaking threateningly.
