Honesty test of real supermarket sweep

Shoppers have been urged to confess their sins after a computer glitch meant a supermarket opened on Good Friday without staff.

The automated system at Pak'n Save in Hamilton, New Zealand, opened the shop and turned on the lights, tills and CCTV at 8am, despite that it was supposed to remain closed over Easter.

Police were alerted at 9.20am by reports of people taking "truckloads of groceries", but only 12 customers had left without paying. Another 12 dutifully paid using the self-service system.

Owner Glenn Miller was philosophical about the technical blunder, telling the Waikato Times: "I can certainly see the funny side of it... but I'd rather not have the publicity to be honest. It makes me look a bit of a dickhead."

He said CCTV footage showed customers going about their normal shopping routines rather than attempting any trolley dashes. Mr Miller said: "Nobody came in and just went for it."

The first customer seemed to be unaware the shop was deserted. "She probably doesn't know we weren't there. It is the funniest thing. You just have to laugh your head off when you watch," Mr Miller said.