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Police say more New Zealand cities may have fallen prey to an Auckland-based syndicate which has allegedly stolen more than $100,000 worth of big brand products to onsell cheaply at markets.
Six people - including a mother and daughter - appeared in the Waitakere District Court yesterday on charges including theft and receiving stolen goods after a crime spree throughout Tauranga on Saturday.
Detective Sergeant Eugene Pickett of Henderson CIB said it was possible there were more victims and other offenders involved.
However, he said there was "substantial" work to be done on the investigation before police knew exactly how far the group had gone.
Police allege some members of the group drove around Tauranga, stealing more than $12,000 worth of cosmetics, toiletries, printing ink cartridges and clothing from large stores and supermarkets on Saturday.
When they returned to Auckland, they were stopped by police and allegedly found with stolen products.
Mr Pickett said three search warrants followed, in which police found more stolen products in a storage unit and in vehicles.
Police are now faced with the tedious task of listing and categorising hundreds of small but expensive items such as razor blades, electric toothbrushes and batteries which they believe were stolen for cut-price resale at markets.
Police, who have dubbed the investigation Operation Olay after one of the skincare products targeted, say they began looking into the group in November last year when they discovered the products being sold at markets in Auckland and as far south as Hamilton.
Eugene Snow Mason, 34, of West Harbour, and his partner and mother of two children Lisa Anne Sarah Toamaka, 44, are charged with participating in a criminal enterprise. Both deny their involvement.
Appearing on the same charge were: Evelyn Shortcliffe, 50, of Massey, Georgina Adamson, 31, of Massey, Kathleen Bernadette Smith, 38, of Whangarei and her daughter Pamela Smith, 23, of Manukau.
Court documents show each member of the group - excluding Toamaka - is charged with 10 counts of theft after Saturday's spree.
Mason faces a separate charge of receiving $20,000 worth of stolen products.
Police say it is likely further charges will follow and more arrests could be made.
Police opposed bail for all six accused, fearing more products could be hidden or onsold and that other offenders are still at large.
But Judge Philip Recordon allowed bail for all six until a pre-depositions hearing in August. Conditions of bail included reporting to police, not associating with one another and not entering any of the stores they allegedly stole from.
