Auckland Pokémon Card Theft Leads to Worker Stabbing

Three youths have been arrested after allegedly stealing Pokémon cards from a hobby store in Auckland's Newmarket, with police saying one stabbed a staff member who tried to stop them. Police responded to reports of shoplifting at a hobby store on Broadway in which a staff member suffered a stab wound at around 5.40pm on Thursday. The injured worker later told 1News he did not hold any grudge toward the youths involved, urging others to “play Pokémon, not knives”. “I just hope the kids learnt their lesson early so they can change their life path,” he said. “I don’t feel negative toward them.” Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce said three young males allegedly stole from the business and fled on foot. "An employee from the store pursued this group, managing to stop one of these males on Nuffield St when a knife was produced." The employee suffered a "moderate stab wound" and was later taken to Auckland Hospital, where he was later discharged. Newmarket Security arrived on scene, holding the 16-year-old male and removing the knife from his possession before police arrested him, Bunce said. "The other two young males were tracked to nearby Newmarket Train Station and were apprehended." Bunce said police were "appalled at the unnecessary level of violence" inflicted on the staff member. "Police acknowledge the quick actions of Newmarket Security staff and members of the public who quickly swung into action as our staff were responding to the scene," he said. "This could have a very different outcome." Hobby Lords managing director Liam O’Neill said thefts were rare at the chain and that the staff member was recovering. "He told me ‘the kid had bad aim’, because he didn’t hit anything important," O’Neill said. O’Neill said he was frustrated by what he expects will be the legal outcome. "It’ll be a slap on the wrist — an absolute travesty from our justice system. We’d love to see the Government put in more protections for retail workers. We’d love to see actual justice," he said. The Government introduced its Crimes Amendment Bill last month, which included tougher measures targeting retail crime, including harsher penalties and the introduction of on-the-spot fines of up to $1000 for low-level theft in an effort to deter shoplifters. The 16-year-old arrested will appear in the Auckland Youth Court charged with aggravated wounding and shoplifting on January 26. The other two, both aged 13, were spoken with and will be referred to Youth Aid.