A new government initiative to tackle retail crime has drawn mixed reactions from a few retailers in Auckland, with many arguing that harsher penalties alone may not be enough to stem the tide of shoplifting and violent thefts.
On 1 July 2025, in Auckland, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee, alongside Sunny Kaushal, Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, unveiled a new infringement regime targeting shoplifters and repeat thieves.
Under the new system, offenders can be issued on-the-spot tickets of up to $1000, depending on the value of the stolen goods.
Talking about the announcement, Gurdeep Singh, owner of Pooja Jewellers in Auckland, questioned the real-world impact of the fines. “The proposed fine of up to $1,000 is meaningless if the offender has no means to pay. What happens in that case? Does the government absorb the loss? This is not a deterrent,” he said.
According to the government, fines could range up to $500 for low-value items, while goods worth over $500 could incur the
Singh, who was seriously injured during a robbery in June 2024 after being struck in the head three times with a hammer, said many offenders—including those as young as 15—were on bail and have since committed further crimes. “To this day, my stolen inventory has not been recovered, and those responsible have not faced meaningful consequences. If the government cannot even manage youth offenders, what hope do we have as business owners when it comes to adult criminals?” he told The Indian Weekender.
As part of the rule, a new offence of aggravated theft is also being introduced. It would apply to high-value theft committed in a threatening, offensive, insulting, or disorderly manner.
Associate Minister McKee said, “Harsher penalties could mean up to twice as long behind bars for aggravated theft, and criminals will be forced to think twice before destroying more lives.”
Goldsmith said the changes aim to reduce the burden on retailers and ensure accountability for offences that often go unpunished. “Currently, the administrative burden can deter retailers from making official complaints, and lower-level offending often goes unreported or unpunished,” he said. “Our government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods.”
Singh further stated, “Home detention, youth facilities, and mentoring programs are not adequate responses for serious crimes. Additionally, the judiciary must also be held accountable. Laws can only go so far if judges continue handing down lenient sentences. The idea that some offenders are receiving ‘discounts’ more generous than the Chemist Warehouse is both absurd and unacceptable.”
Harvinder Singh Dhiman, owner of Hotspot Mobile in Auckland, echoed similar concerns. His store was attacked by four masked men with sticks on 17 May 2025—the second such incident in two months. Dhiman said this rule might bring change, “but only if they are caught.”
“They don’t care if they are fined $1000 or $2000. They will not pay from their own pockets,” he said, adding that stricter laws might be the only real solution.
In May, as reported by The Indian Weekender, Dhiman was about to close his store for the day when four masked men entered through a side opening. His shop was quickly ransacked, resulting in the loss of two high-end phones and extensive damage to display counters. He says the fear from that day still haunts him.
Goldsmith said police would have the option to issue fines immediately at the scene or later when identified if the offender was identified through CCTV footage.
Earlier, Goldsmith also proposed stronger penalties for those who assault first responders. On Monday, the government announced plans to legislate coward punches—strikes to the head or neck delivered without warning—as a specific criminal offence.
Gurdeep Singh said the lack of legal recognition for such attacks had been long overdue. “The fact that a ‘coward punch’ was not previously recognised as a specific criminal offence is baffling. A tragic example of this oversight occurred when a security guard was killed by a teenager while simply doing his job at a Countdown store in South Auckland,” he said.
“In my view, not every offender is capable of rehabilitation. Sometimes, the most responsible course of action is to remove dangerous individuals from society and keep them separated—regardless of age or background,” Singh added.
Faizan Bakrawala, a mobile storeowner whose shop was Burgled twice said that the penalties on shoplifting is effective when the Police is able to "catch the offender" and that happens when the "police responds to the incident."
"Paying fine is not a big deal for the offender because they already have many pending on them."
"This is not enough in light of offense," Faizan said.