Spray can sting nabs shops

Five out of six Bay retail stores each sold a can of spray paint to a 15-year-old girl - despite saying their policy was to restrict sales to older teenagers.
The retailers were caught out in a Bay of Plenty Times sting, conducted as part of a special investigation into the tagging epidemic sweeping the city.
Homes, businesses, clubs and public property are being repeatedly targeted by tagging addicts who seek fame _ angering victims and leaving city leaders and police struggling to tackle the problem.
There is no legal minimum age for buying spray paint and it is up to each retailer to decide if they will restrict sales.
Council environmental monitoring manager James Jefferson said in the past the council had asked retailers to restrict sales to customers aged over 18.
"At the end of the day we find the big retailers are very responsible of who they're selling the spray paint to."
So, we rang six retailers and asked them what their policy was and then sent a 15-year-old girl in to test them. The result was that five sold cans of spray paint to her. To find out which ones they were, and their responses when told, read on:
MITRE 10 SOLUTIONS, PAPAMOA Policy:
"We don't sell to under 18s unless we ask at the till for a phone number, and we phone the parents. The parent will have to verify that it's allowed. We do ask for ID and we do turn people away." _ Brian Johnstone, manager
What happened:
Spray paint sold with no questions asked. Not locked away.
Response when informed of result:
"Did she? Can I ask when?' We then said who the operator on the receipt was listed as, at what time and on what till.
"I am really hacked off with that staff member. We've always had that policy ... I really reinforced that with every staff member (after the Bay Times called to find out the policy prior to the sting). That staff member is quite senior and that's very disappointing. Our policy is not to serve under 18s and it has been for a very long time." _ Brian Johnstone, manager
BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE, MOUNT MAUNGANUI
Policy:
"We do sell it but we've got signs up saying you've got to be over 18. At the service desk they should be asking for ID." _ Donna Crook, decorating co-ordinator
What happened:
Spray paint sold with no questions asked. Not locked away. Response:
"That's not good, I'll let the team know." _ Donna Crook, decorating co-ordinator
HAMMER HARDWARE, BETHLEHEM
Policy:
"We don't sell spray paint to under 18s." _ Karen Rae, manager
What happened:
The shop assistant helped our 15-year-old actor to find the spray paint, and asked what it was being used for. Our teenager told her it was for general purposes, and then proceeded to the counter. At the counter she was asked for ID, and was refused the spray paint when she could not produce any.
The 15-year-old was told it was Hammer Hardware's policy not to sell spray paint to under 18-year-olds.
Hammer Hardware also had a bright yellow sign at the spray paint display specifying that spray paint would not be sold to under 18s.
Response:
"We've just made a policy on it and we really like our community.
"[Graffiti] is horrible and it's made a real mark on Bethlehem lately.
"We have to take our responsibility and do our bit." _ Karen Rae, manager
SUPER CHEAP AUTO, JUDEA
Policy:
"We generally do ask (for ID) but only when we feel reason to, it just depends. We have a chat to them about what they're using it for." _ Aaron Iggulden, assistant manager
What happened:
Super Cheap Auto has actually been the victim of tagging itself recently, with large obvious scrawls on the Waihi Rd side of the building and the front. Despite this, the business still sold spray paint to our 15-year-old, without asking what she was using it for or having a chat to her at all.
Response:
"We may take the next step to what Whakatane does, they take people's names and phone numbers (to pass on to the police). That deters a lot of people. We haven't really had an issue with under-agers. I'll look into that definitely, I always ask for ID. We'll just have to tighten up on that." _ Nicky Allan, manager
THE WAREHOUSE, CAMERON RD
Policy:
No one under 16, customers are asked for ID at the checkout. _ Andrew Long, manager
What happened:
The Warehouse was the victim of severe tagging a few months ago when the sign was tagged in large block letters.
Regardless of this, the spray paint was sold to our 15-year-old with no questions asked.
Response:
"Oh did she? "Okay, well I need to check out with my supervisors and find out why that happened." _ Andrew Long, manager
REPCO, SECOND AVE, TAURANGA
Policy:
"We ask the guys for ID and if they're not over 16 then we don't sell them the paint (if they're underage). We also have a sign up in our paint aisle that says `You may be asked for ID'." _ Steve Eames, 2IC
What happened:
Our 15-year-old walked into Repco and found the paint, before proceeding to the counter. She was asked if she had any ID, to which she replied she did not. She was sold the spray paint regardless, with no further questions.
Response:
"You sent one in? What for? It's not a legal policy, it's just something we do (for moral reasons).
"It would be irresponsible of me to comment until I've spoken to (the staff member who sold it).
"We try our best not to sell it to children.
"We're putting lock-up cabinets in too. At the end of the day what do you do? I'm a bit disappointed." _ Chris Thompson, manager