Auckland ram raids: Pawn shop franchise latest victim, one of two stores hit just days apart

An East Auckland pawn shop is the latest retailer to become a target of ram raids and the manager has said they and others are "bleeding out".

This morning's 2.15am raid at the DollarDealers store in Glen Innes was the second blow in just days for manager James Delmont after another of the franchise's stores in Hamilton was burgled.

Delmont said today's offenders "drove a car straight through the front windows and joinery" but were unable to gain entry.

Fortunately, ram raiders were not able to get inside the Glen Innes DollarDealers store in an attempted ram raid on Tuesday morning. Photo / Supplied

The break-in attempt was thwarted by a door grill, said a police spokesperson.

When police arrived at the shop, the offenders had already fled but had left the stolen car at the scene.

Delmont said the damage done to the structure of the shop came with significant consequences.

Delmont predicted the store would have to be closed for up to six weeks while waiting for repairs.

"People are waiting months on building materials at the moment and it's no different for a shopfront," he said.

This meant they'd be facing prolonged income losses but the financial burdens didn't stop there.

Delmont said site expenses would remain high and insurance premiums were increasing alongside the spate of ram raids.

"The fact that we'll be full boarded up will mean minimal to none [income]," he said.

"It's just another bitter pill to swallow."

He recognised that he was not alone and said around every third store in Glen Innes had been boarded up recently after being targeted by ram raiders.

Delmont told the Herald he had to sit at the front of the store early this morning as no security guards were available.

"I had to get up at 2am and go there, no static guards in the whole of Auckland were available because there are so many on duty at the moment given the ram raids that are taking place," he said.

"So, I sat in my car right outside the store and protected it myself."

Police are reviewing CCTV footage apart of their investigations into the attempted ram raid.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105 quoting P050519711.

Information can also be reported anonymously to 0800 555 111.

On Saturday at 2am, DollarDealers in Hamilton suburb Dinsdale was also hit in a ram raid.

Thieves smashed through the front of DollarDealers in Hamilton on Saturday. Photo / Supplied

Delmont said the thieves got into the store, smashed all the cabinets and stole items.

He said it was the third time in 18 months the store had been ram raided.

Police explained to Delmont that fingerprints and evidence found in cars were not overly helpful, he said.

"The likelihood of finding suspects is slim, given all are youths with no criminal history and therefore no prints or DNA to match in their systems," he said.

Delmont said retail operators and police were frustrated.

"How can the police do their job, when they don't have the resources, means or power to do it? How can communities be safer together if the police have no power to enforce the law? The answer, they can't and are not," he said.

"No one is safe, people are more concerned and wary of their safety than ever."

He said the restrictions during Covid-19 have already increased enough pressure on businesses.

He said a continuation of ram raids and robberies will kill businesses.

"The costs are becoming increasingly unbearable," he said.

"I am just one of many operators out there. We're bleeding out."

A mall in Hamilton was also ram raided on Saturday.

Two vehicles smashed through the glass doors of Centre Place from Civic Square on Worley Pl about 5am.

Police said several people got out of the vehicles and searched several stores.

They said the vehicles then left through another set of doors.

A police spokesperson said inquiries were still ongoing.