Woolworths asks for govt help as assaults in stores spike

Woolworths asks for govt help as assaults in stores spike
Woolworths Takapuna closed due to a robbery on January 12 this year. (Image: Hayden Woodward)
Gregor Thompson
Woolworths has become the latest major retailer to divulge the rates of retail crime at its New Zealand stores and called for help from the government.On Wednesday, the Australian-owned supermarket franchise said physical assaults climbed 50% to 329 incidents in the 12 months to June 30.This figure was a component of the number of “acts of violence and aggression”, which rose 9% to 925.The company said many of the perpetrators are “repeat offenders” and that, “pleasingly,” the use of weapons has been reduced....

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