Dunedin school pupils are better behaved this holiday period during term breaks in previous years, retailers say.
Fine weather is being touted as a contributing factor in the relatively problem-free holiday to date.
Meridian mall manager Michael Porter said although foot traffic through the George St shopping complex was busier than at the corresponding time last year, there were fewer shoplifting and trespass incidents.
Last week there were 1000 more people through the mall than during the corresponding holiday period in 2011.
Mr Porter said mall retailers were pleased with the lack of wayward behaviour by holidaying children and teenagers.
"Traditionally over the school holidays there are several trespass notices issued for shoplifting youths, and the same even on a rainy weekend. But they've been very well behaved these school holidays so far and we are very happy," he said.
But the start of term two is still a week away.
Mr Porter said the second week of school holidays was usually worse for retailers, because school pupils typically became bored and ran outof spending money.
Wall Street Mall manager Regan Bennett also hoped the good behaviour of school pupils would continue.
"We haven't had any problems with stealing or anything.
There's always young people around but I think they know they're not going to get away with it," Mr Bennett said.
He encouraged mall retailers to provide constant customer service, partly because people were more likely to misbehave when left alone.
"She's been smooth sailing so far, so fingers crossed it will continue," he said.
