Police have charged an alleged prolific shoplifter after a string of offences across the Counties Manukau district, including one incident involving a firearm in east Auckland.
The 34-year-old man will face court this week on 12 shoplifting charges.
He also faces a charge of presenting a firearm at a person during an alleged incident at a Highland Park supermarket on January 6 this year.
Locating him was a top priority for sergeant Phill Moody’s team in Counties Manukau South Police.
“The man had been causing great harm to our community throughout the year, and had at least 39 warrants for his arrest,” Moody says.
“This man was also being sought by the National Retail Investigation Support Unit.”
The suspect was arrested during the execution of a warrant at a Papakura property late last week.
He was remanded into custody at his initial court appearance for these recent charges and is next due to appear in the Papakura District Court on December 14.
Police have also summonsed a 37-year-old woman to appear in court on two counts of shoplifting where she has been jointly charged with the man.
She’s expected in the Papakura District Court in January next year.
“We have no tolerance for this offending being committed in our communities, and we will continue to target and hold offenders to account for their actions,” Moody says.
