Whakatāne’s new retail beat team is already making an impact, making its first arrest last week.

Senior Sergeant Cam MacKinnon said the team arrested an alleged shoplifter.

“It required them to go and locate someone at their home address and arrest that person for a number of separate shoplifting incidents.”

The man, aged in his 40s, is now before the courts.

Mr MacKinnon expects the beat team to be “robust” in calling retail offenders to account for their behaviour and has a message for would-be offenders.

“A few can make a big difference … for the criminal offending fraternity that lives amongst us, be on guard – the beat team are out and about and watching.”