Grab and go: Tauranga's brazen thieves

Do you recognise these people? Three young men were captured fleeing Bayfair with armloads of clothing after a Kathmandu store was burgled. Photos/supplied

Thieves are plaguing Tauranga retailers with increasingly brazen raids targeting high-end merchandise - including one where the offenders were caught on security camera.

The groups of thieves have been hitting high-quality clothing stores, often walking in during opening hours and leaving with armloads of stolen gear.

There have been at least 19 shoplifting offences in the Western Bay of Plenty since January 1 where property valued at more than $1000 has been taken.

On July 3, a shop assistant at the Kathmandu store in Bayfair Shopping Mall was pushed to the ground as thieves ran from the shop, struggling to contain their haul of 14 expensive jackets. They were caught on security camera.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said although the group photographed was probably just one of a number of groups responsible, the spate of attacks in the region was worrying. Often the thefts were so brazen; it was not until thieves fled to a waiting car that staff realised what had happened, he said.

"The blatancy of stealing large amounts of items during the day while the shops are open is concerning, as is pushing staff out of the way to run off with items. It's very much a concern for the police."

Quality jackets, surf wear and sunglasses were among the goods stolen from stores such as Kathmandu on Elizabeth St and in Bayfair plus North Beach in Fraser Cove.

Mr Turner declined to say how much the jackets from the July 3 theft were worth but said the business had suffered a substantial loss.

"It is very brazen."

Mr Turner said in addition to the shoplifting, groups of people were committing burglaries after-hours and using stolen cars to either ram raid a store or flee with stolen property.

Police were keeping an open mind to any connections between the groups, he said.

"What is a common denominator between all of these is there will be people out there who are prepared to receive the stolen property and forward it on. That's the key to solving them - the community identifying those persons trading in stolen property."

Mr Turner said it was not only retailers who lost out, but the wider public who have to pay higher prices for goods to cover the loss created by the thefts.

"It affects all of us."

Retail NZ public affairs general manager Greg Harford said retail crime was getting increasingly more aggressive and violent.

"The biggest concern is it's becoming more brazen. People are doing this in broad daylight and acting like they are going to get away with it," he said.

"Everyone deserves to go to work and be safe."

Mr Harford said retail staff should not put themselves in harm's way, but they should keep a clear line of vision on people acting suspiciously and call the police.

Bayfair manager Steve Ellingford said the thefts were concerning but said people should avoid putting themselves at risk because people's welfare was "by far more important than a product on a rack".

Representatives from Kathmandu and Northbeach could not be reached for comment.

Can you help?

If anyone has been offered clothing, sunglasses, shoes or similar items "too cheaply" or if anyone knows of people receiving stolen property, they have been asked to contact police on 07 577 4300 or offer information anonymously via 0800 Crimestoppers.