An Auckland dairy owner says his store was smashed up twice by the same man in a matter of hours.
Police charged a man over an alleged assault and wilful damage at a Symonds St dairy two weeks ago.
The man was arrested after allegedly throwing products off the shelves of the dairy and damaging the pie heater.
Police said he was taken into custody before officers realised he had an existing injury that needed medical treatment, instead giving him a court summons and taking him to Auckland City Hospital.
He was also given a trespass notice.
A couple of hours later, police received a call that the man had gone back to the shop. He was found nearby and arrested once again.
Store owner Kartik said he was just trying to run his business.
“I really feel very much disappointed,” he said. “I’m spending like 12, 13 hours at my store, and the thing is, I’m working hard and helping the economy as well.”
Kartik was worried the man could have done something worse when he came back to the shop.
Inspector Grant Tetzlaff said police understood how Kartik was feeling.
“We recognise this is an upsetting situation for the store owner, who was simply operating his business on a Saturday night,” he said.
“Police acknowledge his concerns, and we will take the opportunity to review decision-making on the night.”
Tetzlaff said police would be meeting with the business owner and addressing any concerns would be a priority.
“We want to reassure the public that safety is our priority, and we will hold this offending to account.”
Sunny Kaushal, chair of the Ministerial Advisory Panel for Victims of Retail Crime, told RNZ governments have been slow to act on the issue.
“Governments over the time have not taken the actions in time,” he said.
“The biggest challenge we face is a perception by offenders that they’re untouchable, that there are no consequences for their actions, that police won’t respond, and that even if they do, that the courts will let them go.”
Kaushal felt that perception escalated violence, and encouraged criminals to keep offending.
“This needs to stop.”
Government reforms targeting retail offending, like harsher penalties for shoplifters and stricter trespass notices would help, Kaushal said.
The man was expected to appear in the Auckland District Court later this month.
rnz.co.nz
