A porky customer who aroused suspicion in a Whangarei supermarket wasn't filled with Christmas cheer, his pants were stuffed with the 2kg Christmas pot roast he'd just allegedly stolen. Sergeant John Fagan said police were called to a Whangarei supermarket after a husband and wife from Dargaville allegedly stole meat bystuffing it in their underpants. Security staff spotted the duo about 2pm on Tuesday and stopped them outside the shop with the food. Mr Fagan said both the man and the woman had been wearing women's contour underpants - tight-fitting, body-shaping underwear. The man allegedly stuffed a 2kg pork shoulder roast into his body-hugging underwear. A 43-year-old man and a woman, aged 45, were both charged with shoplifting and will appear in Whangarei District Court next week. In another incident, a 44-year-old Otangarei woman was arrested after allegedly trying to steal $25 worth of chicken, a rubbish bag and butter from a Whangarei supermarket at 9am on Tuesday. With only 15 more sleeps until Christmas, it is thought that people under financial strain are resorting to stealing to put food on the table and presents under the tree. December is a month when shoplifting spikes and has Northland police warning retailers to be vigilant and report those pilfering goods. At this time of year food, alcohol and clothing prove to be "hot items" as people
ready themselves for Christmas. Some businesses could expect to lose thousands of dollars worth of stock in December alone. Whangarei and Kaipara area controller Police Inspector Paul Dimery feared some of the region's dishonest citizens would decide to shoplift for Christmas presents. Mr Dimery said it had been a December trend for a number of years and police needed to know about shoplifting incidents and urged retailers to contact police immediately. "People become more active with shoplifting at this time of year. Retailers have to take precautions." Nationally, thieves cost retailers $1 million to $2 million a day. Spokesperson for the New Zealand Retailers Association Barry Hellberg said "shop theft" - shoplifting and theft by shop workers - cost $540 million annually.
