A man tried to drink alcohol off the shelf of two Dunedin supermarkets and turned violent when asked to leave, police say.
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said the the 48-year-old entered New World Centre City about 3pm on Sunday, opened a bottle of wine and started to drink it in the store.
The man had been trespassed previously and was asked to leave.
He soon returned and attempted to drink off the shelf again and when asked to leave became verbally abusive, Snr Sgt Bond said.
The man was then alleged to have moved a block down the road to Countdown Dunedin Central and opened and drunk from another bottle there before being asked to leave.
When he tried to return to the supermarket later, security stopped him.
The man picked up a cone and threw it at the security officer, hitting him in the chest, Snr Sgt Bond said.
Police arrested the man at the scene.
His was trespassed from both supermarkets and faced three charges of theft and one of assault with a blunt instrument.
Trespassing the man again meant the time was extended, and it also ensured he was ‘‘well aware he isn’t allowed back’’ and understood the consequences of returning, Snr Sgt Bond said.
