Burglars smashed their way through the front door of a Hamilton service station only to flee again shortly afterwards when a fog cannon went off.
However, Waikato police Senior Sergeant Mike Henwood said it was still unclear what had been taken but it was believed the cigarette cabinet was still in situ.
Henwood said the group of burglars hit the Caltex service station in Dinsdale about 3am today.
After smashing through the front the fog cannon has gone off and the group have left.
"A short time later police in Western Heights found a dumped Mazda Demio that we believe is linked to the burglary."