Source: Radio New Zealand
Woolworths Point Chevalier reduced its hours last year following safety concerns. RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
Residents and business owners in Auckland’s Point Chevalier are feeling optimistic as shoplifting is finally brought under control.
It comes just over a year after the local supermarket started closing early over safety concerns.
On a main thoroughfare parallel to Auckland’s north-western motorway, the Point Chevalier shops are nestled between two worlds.
Despite being the de facto town square for one of Auckland’s more expensive suburbs, the strip has had a troubled history of crime and antisocial behaviour.
Residents like Bob have long lamented the closure of the Point Chevalier library, which was shuttered in late 2022 due to a leaky ceiling.
But a new interim library finally opened its doors to visitors on Saturday.
“I think losing the library for such a long time was a big deal because it was kind of part of the package. It was for me anyway, so it’s nice that it’s come back,” Bob said.
Margi Watson, the newly elected local board chair, said the library’s absence had been felt throughout the community.
“You know, when the library was closed off and the town square was all fenced off, there were some safety concerns,” she said.
“Now we’re hoping that the library’s open, the town square’s open, there’s less concerns from people about security.”
Last year, in response to brazen shoplifting and harassment, Woolworths Point Chev restricted its hours and boosted its security.
Since then, new high-density apartments, a competing New World supermarket, and the much-anticipated reopening of the local library have given residents and businesses hope.
Lotto shop owner Chirayu Patel said he hadn’t encountered shoplifters in some time.
“Better than last year. Like, yeah, the cops also coming and visiting here twice a week. And then Auckland Council security guys also visiting. Yeah, so it’s better than last year,” he said.
However, another shopkeeper who asked not to be identified told RNZ shoplifting was still a common occurrence at his store.
A spokesperson for Woolworth’s said its security measures had paid off, with a steady reduction in shoplifting over the past year.
“In line with our $45 million investment over three years, announced in 2023, we have put in place a number of both covert and overt security measures across our stores, including Pt Chevalier,” they said.
“We have seen an improvement and we will continue to work with Police, community groups and other retailers in our communities.”
Workers First Union retail secretary Rudd Hughes, who represented supermarket staff, said Woolworth’s deserved credit.
“What they’ve done is that they’ve actually now put on properly trained security people. Those security guards are able to stop shoplifters. They have two security guards on at the peak times, which is something that we asked for,” he said.
“So to be fair to Woolworths, they’ve picked up their game around this.”
He said other improvements had made the supermarket safer for staff and customers alike.
“They’ve changed the configuration at Point Chev a little bit, so there’s only one door for customers to exit,” he explained
“And the other thing is they’ve got the shark-teeth doors fixed and the trolley lock in place. So all those things have meant that verbal abuse, physical abuse and the shoplifting has calmed down in that store.”
Margi Watson hoped safety improvements and the new library would attract more people to the suburb.
“The new library will go back to a full-service library where there’s books, where there’s activity, there’s events like Wriggle and Rhyme for children, where there’s printing and computers to access. So it’ll become the heart of the community again.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
