Auckland supermarket staffer threatened with pineapple during trio’s alleged shoplifting attempt

Police are investigating after a trio's daring shoplifting attempt at an Auckland supermarket on Monday, during which a staff member was threatened with a pineapple.

Video footage has captured a trio’s brazen shoplifting attempt at an Auckland supermarket, during which a customer had a grocery item thrown at them and a worker was threatened with a fruit.

A police spokesperson said they were investigating the Monday afternoon incident involving three women at Woolworths Mt Wellington.

The trio allegedly tried to steal a trolley full of items, but their efforts were foiled and they only made off with a 10-pack of Mountain Dew cans, laundry liquid and a pineapple.

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One of the women is captured on video throwing a canister of an unidentified grocery item at a customer, hitting them in the shoulder.

The same woman then picks up a pineapple from the floor and pretends to throw it at a Woolworths employee.

Police are investigating after a trio's alleged daring shoplifting attempt at an Auckland supermarket on Monday, during which a staff member was threatened with a pineapple.

The video also shows a supermarket trolley worker unsuccessfully attempting to prevent the alleged offenders’ escape by blocking the exit with a row of trolleys.

Two of the women run away as the third casually walks off.

“The offending was reported to police at 4pm, when a group of three women were attempting to leave the store with a trolley of stolen goods,” the police spokesperson said.

Police said all three alleged offenders left the scene in a vehicle, despite efforts from the Woolworths trolley worker to foil their exit.

“During the course of their offending, a customer in the store suffered a minor assault.”

Police said it has also been reported the women attempted to assault a staff member before all three left in a vehicle.

“Our inquiries remain ongoing into the incident, and there is no tolerance for the violent behaviour that was exhibited.”

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A Woolworths New Zealand spokesperson said this “would have been a distressing incident for customers to witness”, but did not go into more detail.

“We are working closely with police on criminal behaviour in some stores but unfortunately, like many retailers in New Zealand, we have experienced a rise in crime.

“We are constantly working on safety and security measures and in 2023 we announced we are investing $45 million over three years on security and safety measures in our stores,” Woolworths said.

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.