Newmarket Horror: Staff Member Stabbed After Confronting Pokémon Card Thieves

By Lions Roar News Crime Desk

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (Wednesday, January 21, 2026) — A routine evening in Auckland’s premier shopping district turned violent on Thursday when a hobby store employee was stabbed while attempting to stop a group of youths allegedly stealing Pokémon cards.

The incident has sparked fresh outrage over juvenile crime and the safety of retail workers in Newmarket.

🔪 The Pursuit and Attack

The incident unfolded around 5:40 PM at a hobby store on Broadway. According to police, three young males entered the shop and fled on foot with a quantity of Pokémon cards.

• The Confrontation: A store employee pursued the group and managed to intercept one of the males on Nuffield Street.
• The Weapon: During the struggle, a knife was produced. The staff member suffered a “moderate stab wound” and was rushed to Auckland Hospital for treatment.
• The Intervention: Newmarket Security staff and members of the public intervened, disarming and holding a 16-year-old male until police arrived.

🚓 Arrests and Charges

Following the initial arrest on Nuffield St, police tracked the remaining two suspects to the nearby Newmarket Train Station, where they were apprehended without further incident.

• 16-Year-Old Suspect: Arrested and charged with aggravated wounding and shoplifting. He is scheduled to appear in the Auckland Youth Court on January 26.
• 13-Year-Old Suspects: Two other youths, both aged 13, were taken into custody. They have been referred to Youth Aid.

Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce expressed his shock at the escalation: “We are appalled at the unnecessary level of violence inflicted on the staff member… This could have had a very different outcome.”

📊 Crime Snapshot: Newmarket Broadway Incident