A TikTok user has captured a woman's shoplifting attempt, something Foodstuffs said has become a regular occurrence. The woman had walked out of the supermarket with a full trolly before being confronted by staff.
The woman was trespassed from the PAK’nSave Tamatea store last year, and returned this time around with a crying baby and a suspected shoplifting motive.
A Foodstuff spokesperson said that this sort of activity has become a sad reality that staff in-store have witnessed more often in previous years.
“Supermarkets are on the front line of the rising trend of retail crime, and it’s a sad reality that incidents such as shoplifting, assault and other aggressive behaviour are becoming more frequent,” Foodstuffs said in a statement.
“The customer responded aggressively towards our two team members and swore at them while continuing to shunt the trolley into them, with her baby in the seat of the trolley.”
The video, captured by a bystander, showed the woman arguing with two supermarket staff outside before taking the baby and walking away. It was confirmed that her trespassing was related to another shoplifting incident. Her trespass order will expire in May 2025.
Foodstuffs confirmed that nearby customers and staff caught up in the event were naturally ‘shaken up’ by the incident, and that the incident had been reported to the police.
Police advised that if fellow customers witness an event similar in nature, they should call 111 and, if it is safe to do so, take down the registration number of a vehicle they may get into.
Community groups said that occurrences such as this have become more frequent, and could be linked to the current recession. There have been major increases in food referrals across the country, and KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals have doubled as a result of the cost of living.
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