Countdown supermarkets to remove cigarettes outside trading hours

One of the country’s major supermarket chains is removing cigarettes from its premises outside normal trading hours because of safety concerns.

Countdown director of stores Jason Stockill said the decision was made in light of growing retail crime across the nation.

This step would also ensure the safety of its customers and staff, he said.

The chain’s Pt Chevalier store was targeted in a burglary yesterday.

A shopper told the Herald the store’s Huia Rd-facing entrance was blocked yesterday because the glass doors had been badly damaged.

“The staff told me that there had been a ram raid, but as to whether the culprits got inside I didn’t ask.

“They all seemed very upset at the time.”

A police spokesperson said they were called to the supermarket about 1.30am.

”Inquiries are ongoing to determine what was taken and who is responsible.”

Police are asking anyone with footage or information that may help to call the 105 phone service, Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or use the Update My Report online, referencing file number 230405/9904.

Stockill saidthe supermarket chain had added new protection measures in its stores in recent months, including more team training, push-to-talk radios and CCTV surveillance.

“We are also actively working to add further initiatives in the coming months and investing significantly in preventive measures.”

Last year, former associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall - now the Health Minister - introduced the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill, prohibiting the sale of smoked tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.

It also included restricting the number of businesses that could sell smoked tobacco products to 600 nationally.

Former Police Minister Stuart Nash has spoken to Verrall about speeding up the reduction in retailers.

“If we can get the tobacco out of these dairies, I think that may solve the problem,” Nash said.

Ram raids increased by more than 500 per cent at one point last year and led to various Government interventions, namely through changes to how youth offending was addressed and extending financial support for small business owners.

Nash, who held the police portfolio in 2017, said he understood ram-raiders were after tobacco products.