Editorial: Paying for those who don't feel need to

Shoplifting costs each Northland household about $675 a year

I have occasionally wondered whether it is worth reporting shoplifters, after dobbing one in once, and then watching the cheeky little so-and-so walk free out of the store.

There was little the staff of the store could do - company policy was to not engage physically with the shoplifters. This one, I had watched put a packet of chips up his jumper and walk around the aisle looking at other goods.

I told a staff member, who confronted him - he said he was cold, that's why his hands were up his jumper, and they weren't coming out.

I walked away incredulous, and incensed that he knew he could brazenly take something and walk out without repercussions. On another occasion, same thing - shoplifter confronted outside the store - what's in your bag? "I know my rights, you can't touch me."

I felt like grabbing him, telling him "but I can touch your bag, you little *&^%*$" and emptying its contents. Assault, that's called, apparently.

Why should I bother paying for stuff? I contemplated.

In our lead story today, we touch on the fact that shoplifting costs each Northland household about $675 a year - and the country $1.2 billion annually.

Retail New Zealand general manager of public affairs Greg Hartford says that's how much extra we pay for items along the way through increased prices from retailers covering losses.

That's all the incentive we need to continue to report shoplifters and push for tough penalties.

As a country, we are about to get a national sex offenders register. A shoplifters register - complete with photos - would go down a treat with local retailers, I'm sure.