Seven teenagers have been arrested following an aggravated robbery at McDonald’s in Mt Roskill where windows were smashed with hammers and metal poles, causing thousands of dollars of damage.
About 1.30am, police were notified of a group of offenders smashing their way into the fast-food restaurant in Stoddard Rd.
Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, of Auckland City CIB, said the group, who were allegedly armed with hammers and metal poles, gained entry to the restaurant by smashing the store’s windows.
Staff working at the time moved to a secure area and were unharmed in the incident.
”The offenders have allegedly targeted cash before fleeing in the same two vehicles they arrived in,” Friend said.
The vehicles were found abandoned in Gifford Ave and Donald Cres, and CCTV footage showed the group leaving in a different vehicle, which was found in Dominion Rd.
The group, two 18-year-olds, three 17-year-olds and two people aged 16, were taken into custody and will appear in court charged with aggravated robbery.
”This type of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Friend said.
”We hope the community can feel reassured that those involved will be held to account.”
A resident said the building “looked like a war zone” and claimed bullet holes were lodged in the side.
Photos from the scene show entire window panes peeling off the restaurant with glass strewn over the carpark.
Police are on the scene investigating the incident, which has left the store in disarray with chairs flipped over, food on the floor and massive holes where windows used to be.
Photos show investigators with tweezers collecting evidence and taking pictures of the extensive damage.
A worker across the road said she was unsure what could have caused the significant damage to the building.
“Every single window is broken, from the drive-through to the entrance.
“With the level of breakage, something very big had to do this.”
She said a handful of police officers remained on the scene.