Police hunting supermarket ram raiders

At about 12.20am a car was driven into the Supervalue on Titirangi Rd. Minutes later the same thing happened at New World on Godly Rd in Green Bay. Photo / Martin Sykes

Police are hunting thieves who ram raided two West Auckland supermarkets within minutes yesterday.

At about 12.20am a car was driven into the Supervalue on Titirangi Rd. Minutes later the same thing happened at New World on Godly Rd in Green Bay.

Police said the culprits used a stolen car to smash into the stores and were targeting cigarettes and lighters. However, they could not access the locked cigarette shelves so did not get away with any.

Police later found the stolen car, a white station wagon but are still looking for the offenders. A spokeswoman for the Waitakere police said an investigation was ongoing. The ram raids caused concern among residents in the Titirangi area. On a community Facebook page one person said they drove past the Supervalue at about 12.40am and saw three people in high-vis vests who appeared to be guarding the scene.

The front door was "mangled and off its hinges".

Sonya Kent lives near the New World and heard alarms going off just after midnight.
"I went out and... the whole door was in the shop."

Anyone with information about the ram raids is asked to contact the Waitakere police.

Foodstuffs public relations manager Katherine Klouwens confirmed the incident at New World.

"We cannot comment further whilst police are investigating," she said.