When Golriz Ghahraman’s name made headlines again this year over a reported shoplifting incident, another unfamiliar name caught the public’s attention: Auror.

For those who don’t know, Auror is a retail crime-fighting app developed in New Zealand more than a decade ago. Despite being widely used by police and major retailers, it flew under the radar for many until its connection to the Ghahraman case became public.

So, what exactly happened?

Ghahraman, a former Green Party MP, was shopping at Pak’nSave last year. Security staff reportedly noticed her placing items into her tote bag while shopping. Before she reached the checkout, she was approached and asked to empty her bags. The incident led to a police investigation. However, a few days later, police confirmed they had decided not to press charges.

But here’s where Auror comes in: footage of the incident was accessed by police through the app, sparking public curiosity—and questions.

What is Auror, and How Does It Work?

Auror is essentially a crime-busting tool designed to help retailers and police track and target repeat offenders. It uses footage from store cameras and car park license plate recognition to gather information when a crime happens.

Phil Thomson, Auror’s CEO and co-founder, explains it this way: “People sometimes try to twist it to sound like police are spying on everyone, but that’s not the case. What we do is simply help stores report crime and share that information with police—nothing more, nothing less.”

He emphasizes that Auror doesn’t own cameras or conduct live surveillance. “We don’t track every shopper—or any shoppers, for that matter. It’s all about when a crime occurs, making it easier to report and solve.”

Despite these assurances, the app’s rapid growth has raised privacy concerns. Some are worried that retailers and police might be “spying” on unsuspecting shoppers. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner is reportedly still looking into the Ghahraman case, while police have been conducting a review of how they use Auror since mid-2024.

A Long Journey to Success

Interestingly, the idea for Auror came from Thomson’s experience as a privacy lawyer. He teamed up with co-founders James Corbett and Tom Batterbury to create a solution that would help retailers better understand what was happening in their stores while also making police work more efficient.

The result? A platform now valued at an estimated $500 million, with customers across Australia, the US, UK, and Canada.

Auror even survived a major legal challenge last year involving its automatic license plate recognition technology. Judges ruled in the company’s favor, acknowledging the app as an efficient and valuable tool for crime prevention.

Addressing Privacy Concerns

Thomson understands why people might be wary of the technology. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there,” he says. “But if you’re just an everyday Kiwi doing your shopping, you have nothing to worry about. If you’re a criminal, well—life’s getting a bit harder for you.”

As retail crime continues to be a major issue, with an estimated $2 million worth of goods stolen from stores every day, Auror is positioning itself as a critical tool in the fight against theft and organized crime. But as with any surveillance-related technology, it will likely remain a hot topic for debate.