Glenfield Mall assault: Shopper knocked unconscious by alleged shoplifters

A woman attacked at an Auckland mall is unable to walk and too scared to go shopping on her own.

Two women have been charged with aggravated assault after security guards and a bystander were injured attempting to stop an alleged shoplifting incident at Glenfield Mall last week.

Police were called to the shopping centre about 1.30pm on Friday, responding to reports of a security guard being assaulted.

The incident resulted in two people requiring hospital treatment.

Michelle Miller, 59, told the Herald she was shopping at The Warehouse when she was attacked.

“I was just shopping up at the Glenfield Mall with my girlfriend on Friday,” Miller said, “and I saw these young group of girls shoplifting from the $2 shop and other shops as well.

“Then they went into The Warehouse and they were shoplifting from there and I was about to go up and tell the security officer at the Warehouse about them, but obviously they’d already seen them on the cameras.”

Michelle Miller said she is too traumatised to shop alone after an attack at Glenfield Mall. Photo / Michelle Miller

Miller said the security guards escorted them out of the store before one of them was assaulted.

While she was walking out of the store behind the security guards, Miller said a man and a woman returned and confronted her.

After some verbal back and forth, Miller alleged that the girl came back and delivered a big blow to her face with a closed fist.

“I fell down outside Elements and went back on my back and smacked my head on the floor, the stand of cups fell down on top of me as well.”

Michelle Miller, 59, has been left with several injuries including a sprained ankle. Photo / Michelle Miller

Miller said the attack left her unconscious for about 10 minutes. She also sprained her ankle and suffered severe damage to her lumbar and pelvis.

“I’ve actually got a very severe contusion to the pelvis and my lumbar, I can’t walk at all, so I’m still in the hospital.”

Miller told the Herald she’s spoken to orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists are helping her and it will take at least four to six months for her to fully recover from her injuries.

“I am traumatised by this incident and it has made me feel very unsafe to go shopping on my own.”

A Glenfield Mall spokesperson declined to comment on the incident. The Warehouse has been contacted.

The alleged offenders will appear in court later this week charged with a range of offences.