Small business owners in Auckland are being alerted by a grocery storeowner after a group of children targeted a local grocery store, stealing items like Fanta and biscuits in broad daylight.
Ashu Vermani, owner of AK Supermarket on Great South Road, Takanini, said the incident took place around 1:40 pm on 30 May when about five children entered his store and took some snack items without paying.
“This is the second or the third time this has happened to my one-year-old store,” Vermani said.
CCTV footage showed about four boys and one girl entering together before splitting up at the store.
“While one of them distracted the cashier by taking her to the back of the store to get biscuits, about two of the children took some Fanta and other drinks from the fridge placed next to the front door,” Vermani explained.
The cashier became aware of this and confronted the children after coming back to the cash counter.
“She called them from behind the counter, while one of the children waited at the counter handing out a $10 bill,” Vermani said.
However, “the child handing out the money said he was going to get them, but later also took the $10 bill and didn’t come back.”
Vermani plans to report the incident to the police and share relevant information.
“I wanted to alert my fellow businesses to keep an eye out for such incidents,” he said.
“We cannot fight them, but the least we can do is keep an eye out to save our businesses.”
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