Man hits same Auckland dairy twice in one day

An Auckland dairy owner says his shop was attacked twice within just a few hours, leaving him shaken and frustrated.

Police confirmed they charged a man over an alleged assault and wilful damage at a Symonds Street dairy two weeks ago. Officers said the man had allegedly thrown products off the shelves and damaged a pie heater inside the store.

He was initially taken into custody, but police later discovered he had a pre-existing injury that required hospital treatment. Instead of keeping him in custody, officers issued him a court summons, served a trespass notice, and transported him to Auckland City Hospital.

Just hours later, police were again called to the same store after the man returned. He was located nearby and arrested a second time.

Store owner Kartik said he was devastated by the ordeal.
"I really feel very much disappointed," he told RNZ. "I'm spending like 12, 13 hours at my store, and the thing is I'm working hard and helping the economy as well."

Kartik added that he was deeply concerned about what could have happened if the man had acted more violently upon returning.

Inspector Grant Tetzlaff said police understood the frustration.
"We recognise this is an upsetting situation for the store owner, who was simply operating his business on a Saturday night," he said.

Tetzlaff noted that police would review the decision-making on the night and assured that addressing the concerns of the business owner was a priority.
"We want to reassure the public that safety is our priority, and we will hold this offending to account," he said.

Sunny Kaushal, chair of the Ministerial Advisory Panel for Victims of Retail Crime, told RNZ that governments have been too slow to act on the rising trend of retail crime.
"Governments over the time have not taken the actions in time," Kaushal said.

He explained that many offenders believe they can act without consequence.
"The biggest challenge we face is a perception by offenders that they're untouchable, that there are no consequences for their actions, that police won't respond, and that even if they do, that the courts will let them go," he said.

Kaushal stressed this perception fuels further violence and repeat offending.
"This needs to stop," he said, adding that reforms such as harsher penalties for shoplifters and stricter trespass rules would help tackle the problem.

The man is expected to appear in Auckland District Court later this month.