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A store owner says he has caught a heavily pregnant woman shoplifting from his South Auckland superette in what he believes is a planned and professional operation.
David Goundar, who has owned his Dawson Rd superette at Flat Bush for six years, says he has been targeted at least three times by the woman in the past three weeks.
But now he says he has caught her red-handed on camera.
Mr Goundar said each time the woman visited his store she appeared with another person and was driving a different car.
Mr Goundar said he believed she used her friendly manner to distract staff and ensure they did not suspect her of anything untoward.
"She speaks as if she's known me for ages," Mr Goundar said.
"She makes you forget about what she's going to do and you think she's a nice person."
He said the first time the woman visited the store she stole two loaves of bread.
Mr Goundar felt sorry for her because she was pregnant and did not report the matter to police because he thought she might not have any food.
But the video footage of the latest incident changed his mind.
"I am very shocked," he said.
"I just couldn't believe that. She has pinched a lot of stuff from here."
Surveillance video footage recorded on Saturday showed the woman standing in the store with her hands resting protectively over her stomach.
She then walks down one aisle and puts a packet of nappies in her shoulder bag before walking around the store and taking cat biscuits and a packet of M&Ms chocolates.
She then walks out of the store, empties the bag in her car and returns to buy a 10-pack of toilet paper and a loaf of bread.
Mr Goundar said the "professional" way the woman behaved led him to have fears she was also targeting other stores and he wanted to warn them about her.
The woman had also visited the store in the company of young boys who he described as "street kids".
Mr Goundar has spoken with police and will be supplying them with copies of the security footage.
In the meantime, he would like anyone who knows who the woman is to contact the nearest police station.
