The reasons why NZ’s shoplifting rates have hit their highest level in 15 years

Belinda FeekOpen Justice multimedia journalist, Waikato·NZ Herald·4 Aug, 2026 05:30 AM11 mins to read‌Open Justice reporter Belinda Feek explains the case of a woman who stole seven vacuum cleaners and what it says about how shoplifting has evolved in New Zealand.To learn more about this case and the state of shoplifting in NZ, watch the latest episode of the Open Justice podcast Case by Case in the video above, or listen to the audio episode here: Shoplifters are stealing from the country’s stores at the highest rate