New Zealand’s most prolific retail crime couple face 80 theft, robbery charges

A man and woman who police dubbed New Zealand’s “most prolific retail crime offenders” have been arrested after allegedly stealing more than $300,000 in goods from businesses across the upper North Island.

Police say the pair face a combined total of 80 theft charges, along with an aggravated robbery charge each.

They both appeared in the Auckland District Court today.

The woman, 33, donned a cheetah-print maternity dress and wore her hair in braids this afternoon as she stood in the dock, her lawyer asking Judge Robyn van Keisenberg to be remanded on bail with a 24-hour curfew. She did not immediately enter a plea.

Her co-defendant, 28, pleaded not guilty. His bail request was denied.

Police said the woman faced a single charge of aggravated robbery along with 49 theft charges and the man was also charged with aggravated robbery along with 31 theft charges.

Court documents allege they targeted multiple grocery stores and petrol stations together. On one occasion in November they are accused of having made off with nearly $2300 worth of tools from a Bunnings Warehouse in Glenfield, while another alleged theft involved about $3100 worth of groceries from a Meadowbank Countdown store in January. In September, the pair is alleged to have worked together to steal over $1100 worth of corn beef from an individual.

They are also accused of targeting businesses individually, including an occasion in December in which the male defendant was alleged to have taken over $3100 worth of tools from a Bunnings Warehouse in Takanini.

Theft over $1000 is punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment.

Judge van Keisenberg approved the woman’s bail request, but barred her from shopping at any grocery stores, Warehouse stores or Bunnings stores. The Bail Act restricts media from reporting what is said during bail hearings.

Assistant Commissioner Sam Hoyle said Auckland Central frontline police staff were called to Victoria St West in relation to a vehicle of interest on Thursday.

At the time officers were looking to speak with a man and a woman in relation to numerous theft offences. Both were located nearby.

“The pair were taken into custody by frontline staff and were spoken to further,” said Hoyle.

“A member of the National Retail Investigation Support Unit has collated a number of investigation files resulting in 82 charges being filed.

“Police will allege the pair are responsible for a significant amount of theft, with offending taking place across Tāmaki Makaurau, Northland and Waikato within the past year.”

Police could not rule out further charges being filed, he said.

“We know how much this sort of offending can impact on business owners and the public. This is a fantastic result for our community with the pair put before the court.”

Police remained committed to investigating offending at retail premises and would continue to work hard in holding those responsible to account, he said.

To date the retail investigation unit had held 139 offenders to account, resulting in more than 821 charges being laid nationwide.