An enterprising shopping centre in the US has almost solved petty theft with a simple tactic. It requires no bollards, zero shotguns and not a single new law. New Zealand should pay attention.

You need at least a Silver membership plan to access Insight articles.

Nathan Smith is a former business journalist and columnist at the NBR. He also worked as the chief editor at the New Zealand Initiative policy think tank. He is now a freelance writer and copy editor.