Ram raiders have busted through a Hamilton city mall this morning destroying metal door frames and making off with large amounts of sports clothes.
Police were called to Chartwell Shopping Centre about 1.30am.
"A vehicle was used to gain entry into the mall and multiple offenders targeted a sports goods store and stole a large quantity of clothing," a police spokesperson said.
A metal door frame was bent back by the force of the car smashing into it.
The Herald understands that a Stirling Sports store was targeted.
The group fled from the mall in a second vehicle.
Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said both vehicles used to carry out the ram raid were stolen earlier in the evening.
The second vehicle and the offenders are yet to be found.
"Police staff arrived at the scene within minutes and conducted area inquiries, but were unable to locate the offenders. A scene examination is under way and police are following positive lines of inquiry," Smith said.
"We understand that burglaries of this kind are distressing to business owners and to the wider community and we're working hard to bring the offenders to account."
Smith is warning that the public should be aware of branded sports clothing being offered for sale and should question deals that look too good to be true.
"If you're offered goods at a price that seems to be a steal, take a harder look at what you're really buying in to. Don't encourage offending by buying stolen goods."
Anyone with information about the ram raid is asked to contact police on 105 or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using My Report and referencing the file number 220831/1565.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
This ram raid at the mall comes after five retailers around the city were targeted within three hours yesterday.
First was TechStore on Horsham Downs Rd around 2.10am.
Thieves stole about $14,000 worth of stock, including laptops that were in for repairs, said the owner Sandy Kumar.
Half an hour later, a group attempted to ram raid Total Vision Optometrist on Grey St in Hamilton East but were unsuccessful as their vehicle got stuck in the door.
Astonishing footage captured the moment the driver continued to accelerate after getting stuck, causing the store to quickly fill with smoke and flames to burst out of the car.
About 2.45am, offenders used a metal bar to try to break into Bottle-O on Borman Rd.
The manager of the store said the offenders were thwarted by residents living above the shop and who called the police.
Hours later, about 5am, ram raiders smashed their way into Mobil on Cambridge Rd.
A short while later, the same vehicle was believed to have been involved in a ram raid at Holland Superette on Holland Rd.
Security footage from the convenience store shows a white Mazda Atenza ramming the roller door. A second person can be seen pulling at the door and throwing a sign while a second car waits in the background.
Quickly, the driver and second person run towards the vehicle and take off.
A police spokesperson said the first vehicle had been located by police and will be forensically examined.
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