Retailers toughen up on criminals

by Julie Taylor julie.taylor@dailypost.co.nz
An accommodation sector system to curb crime may be rolled out to Rotorua retailers to help tackle brazen thefts from stores in the central city.

Police say increasing the effort offenders have to make to commit crimes and increasing the risk of them being caught will help prevent thefts.

They want to extend to the retail sector an information-sharing programme which has already proved successful with the local accommodation and tourism sectors.

The police and Partners Intelligence Notification System involves people from the sector submitting non-urgent information about suspicious activity to the police. Following any necessary investigation, an alert is then sent out to participating businesses.

Retailers spoken to by The Daily Post support the idea, saying they already share information among themselves but widening it would be a good idea.

Rotorua police Senior Sergeant Brent Crowe raised the idea at a business crime reduction forum attended by about 100 retailers.

He said offenders were stealing "quite brazenly" from shops in the central city and improved information sharing between police and the community and shop owners taking steps to make their premises less of a target would reduce theft.

Mr Crowe cited an Australian study which showed only one in 10 retail thefts was detected and reported.

"If that is the case in Rotorua and people are not reporting thefts, police are not getting a true picture and we need that to deploy resources properly."

Graeme Jenkins, owner operator of Take Note Rotorua, said the information sharing system would be a worthwhile extension of what already took place between many retailers.

"We do that now within the mall. Owners and managers share a lot of information."

Retailers could only benefit from widening that. It was important to prosecute shoplifters so they knew there were consequences, he said.

"We don't get hit that much because we have a shop that is easy to get around but which is also easy to watch and we prosecute every time."

Paper Plus Rotorua owner Kirsty Evans said shoplifting and damage caused by shoppers was a big issue for retailers and she was right behind the new initiatives.



Rotorua District Council community safety projects officer Juanita Seymour also spoke to retailers about reducing crime through design and the council's plans to gain safe community accreditation from the World Health Organisation within the next two years.

WAYS TO REDUCE CRIME

* Reduce the number of entrances and exits that offenders can use

* Improve in-store visibility with mirrors, lower shelving height and effective lighting

* Keep goods away from doorways and windows where they can be easily taken - don't use display tables outside the store

* Make sure any CCTV cameras are working

* Use dummy display items or lock frequently stolen items in a cabinet

* Clear cash registers regularly and have a safe method of delivering takings to the bank

* Limit the number of unaccompanied children permitted in the shop

* Issue trespass notices to offenders

* Challenge and report suspicious behaviour

* Leave your till empty and open at night.

Rotorua Neighbourhood Support Group is keen to set up business groups within the central business district and in commercial and industrial areas. "It is not just good enough to sit around and moan. Let's get in and do something about it," volunteer Luke Martin told the Retail Crime Reduction Forum. Anybody interested in setting one up in their area can contact the Neighbourhood Support Group at nsrotorua@clear.net.nz