Police Minister Ginny Andersen has admitted the recent spike in retail crime is "simply not acceptable in New Zealand".
It comes after supermarket giant Foodstuffs released a new survey claiming a 38 percent increase in theft reports and a 36 percent rise in serious crime within its stores since last year.
Appearing on AM on Friday, Andersen said that was why the Government was resourcing police "to be able to get on top of this problem".
"We have a special unit that's dedicated to investigating and prosecuting those repeat offenders," Andersen told AM co-host Laura Tupou. "We're prosecuting more than ever when it's reoccurring."
Figures revealed by Andersen during a Justice Select Committee on Thursday showed the National Retail Investigation Support Unit, established just over a year ago, had brought about 1241 charges against 195 offenders. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, appearing before the Select Committee alongside Andersen, revealed the unit had "about eight" cops in it.
But Andersen said the unit was having "some real successes".
Police continued to work hard to get offenders before the court, she said.
"Thirty percent of those prosecuted are receiving a custodial sentence because police are really working hard to get those repeat offenders."
Watch the full video for more.
