Kingston and Frankton community constable Zoe Albon has this week been showing "retail security packs" to Remarkables Park retailers and the wider Frankton and Kingston business community.
Const Albon said the free pack contained useful telephone numbers, prompts if people called 111, explained what details police needed for suspect description and descriptions of suspicious vehicles.
It also included a map of Frankton to help staff give police directions to suspect vehicles and a colour-coded wall chart to give staff an indication of a suspect's height.
Const Albon said she would not say crime was a major problem in Remarkables Park, but police were aware there could be incidents which were not reported.
"Shoplifters and dishonesty offences are some things we deal with in the area and as community constable, to be able to liaise directly with shop owners and the Frankton community, that's how I think we can see that offending reduced.
"I will present this information to individual retailers and each presentation will be specific to their particular business.
"The diverse range of retailers means I will tailor the crime prevention advice appropriately; for example, educating chemist staff about pseudoephedrine shoppers and sharing specific information as a result."
Arrowtown community constable Emily Olsen is developing packs to be distributed in Arrowtown.
The packs, which were first introduced in South Auckland and are paid for by police, are likely to be developed for Queenstown retailers in the future.
Unichem Remarkables Pharmacy pharmacist Glenn Mitchell said the packs sounded like a great initiative.
"We've had incidences of shoplifters we've been able to nab with the assistance of police.
"We try to be more proactive with the prevention side.
"There are suspicious characters, but it's a fine line between judging and off-putting legitimate customers."
• Const Albon said retailers interested in hearing more about the retail security packs can contact her on zoe.albon@police.govt.nz
