Police say they can't get to all retail crime - after revelations revealed they won't investigate some lower-level crimes. 

RNZ reports staff have been directed to not investigate shoplifting below $500 dollars and online fraud below $1000 dollars. 

Police say they may not take a further look into crime below the threshold - and lacking evidence. 

Superintendent Blair Macdonald says his team get 90,000 reports every month - and explained they try to judge where officers can prevent the most amount of harm to the public.     

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