Police Minister Mark Mitchell is sympathising with a man who heckled him during a tense public meeting in central Auckland last night. 

The man claimed he'd recently broken his arm trying to stop a shoplifter. 

Mitchell told Mike Hosking that he completely understands where the man is coming from with his frustrations. 

He says although trends are heading in the right direction and Police are starting to get on top of crime in the CBD, there's still a long way to go. 

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