Sergeant John Larkin with Countdown regional manager Paul Ah Chong at the chain's Tikipunga branch, where 13 trespass notices were issued in one day. Photo / John Stone
Thirteen people have been trespassed from the same supermarket over one day as part of a Whangarei blitz on dishonesty offences.
Police said there had been a noticeable increase in crime around Kensington, Tikipunga and Otangarei over the past three months, with officers increasing their presence in these areas as
a result.
Officers had seen an increase in home burglaries, shoplifting and thefts from cars, a police spokeswoman said. Countdown Tikipunga was where the 13 trespass notices in one day were issued by police last week.
Countdown regional manager Paul Ah Chong said these were shoplifters and people loitering around acting suspiciously. He said it was unusual for this time of year to see a spate of shoplifting, with the usual problem times being Easter and Christmas.
Sergeant John Larkin, on duty at Tikipunga Shopping Complex yesterday, said upping visibility in the community was one of the best ways to reduce crime.
