Police anti-shoplifting session set

Methods for preventing shoplifting will be the topic of a seminar on August 13. Photo / File

Police are inviting Kerikeri business owners to a seminar aimed at helping them stop shoplifters.

The Shoplifting Prevention Expo is being held at Kingston House, in Hone Heke Rd, from 6pm on August 13.

Kerikeri District Business Association members, business owners, employees and interested parties have been invited.

Far North police Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said the seminar had been organised in conjunction with the business association. Topics would include shoplifting trends, detection techniques, shoplifting statistics and, most importantly, tips and initiatives for preventing theft. It would be an open forum aiming to encourage information sharing on best practices.

Similar expos might be held elsewhere around Northland, Mr McLellan said.

"It's an opportunity for the police to get more involved and the community to become more aware. It's Kerikeri this time around, but we intend to roll it out to Kawakawa, Kaikohe, Kaitaia and everywhere in between," he said.

Police would visit all businesses in Kerikeri and Waipapa to invite a representative. The idea for the seminar came from a Kerikeri business owner.

The number of convictions for shoplifting across the country has dropped over the past three years but the New Zealand Retailers' Association still estimates that $1-2million in sales are lost every day as a direct result of shoplifting and theft. Northland police recorded 2489 cases of theft in 2013 (excluding car theft), up from 2223 a year earlier.

For more information call Mr McLellan on (09) 945 6197.