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ABC News
ABC News
National

Police called as row breaks out at Sydney Woolworths over toilet paper

New South Wales Police have been called to a supermarket in Western Sydney after an argument broke out between two women over toilet paper.

The argument was captured on video, which has been viewed more than 210,000 times on Twitter.

It begins with the two women arguing in the aisle of the Woolworths in Chullora on Saturday morning, before a man who appears to be an employee steps in.

"I just want one pack!" a woman is heard saying to the other woman and her mother.

"No, not one pack," the mother of the woman responds, shielding her trolley which is full of toilet paper.

A third voice is heard asking "what's the limit?", an apparent reference to the limit on how much toilet paper can be purchased in a single transaction, imposed by supermarkets this week.

The shelves of many supermarkets were stripped bare this week as shoppers stockpiled items amid a widespread panic about the spread of the coronavirus.

The week saw a spike in coronavirus cases in NSW, from four this time last week to at least 34 confirmed cases as of Saturday.

NSW Police confirmed officers attended the scene after a report of the altercation.

"We were called to Chullora at 9:30am after reports a 49-year-old woman had been assaulted. No arrests were made."" a NSW Police spokesperson said.

Bankstown Police Area Command duty officer, Acting Inspector Andrew New, said that supplies are being replenished and there is no need to panic.

"There is no need for people to go out and panic buy at supermarkets, Paracetamol and canned food or toilet paper," Acting Inspector New said.

"It isn't the Thunderdome, it isn't Mad Max, we don't need to do that."

He appealed to the public for information about the women, and continued "if there has been offences committed, we will investigate and bring them before the courts".

In a statement, a Woolworths spokesperson confirmed the altercation took place and are working with police to find out more.

"We can confirm an incident involving customers at our Chullora store in Sydney earlier [on Saturday]," the spokesperson said.

"We will not tolerate violence of any kind from our customers in our stores and we are working with police who are investigating the matter."

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