KEY POINTS:
Police are adding more night patrols following a spate of a burglaries in which two brazen thieves have netted tens of thousands of dollars from services stations across Auckland.
The 16 burglaries, which started late in May and have mostly occurred in East Auckland and the North Shore, have occurred late at night or in the early hours of the morning when the service stations have closed.
The thieves - police believe two are working together - use a weapon to force their way through the front doors or other parts of the building before raiding the till or safe. While they mostly target cash, cigarettes and phonecards have also been taken.
In one burglary, $25,000 in cash was stolen from one gas station and police estimate the thieves have made off with up to $40,000 so far. They also believe the brazen thieves are unlikely to stop until they are caught.
Howick Senior Sergeant Andrew Berry said at least one of the offenders is very bold, not bothering to disguise himself in any way.
"I think the thing that strikes us about it is how brazen he is in his offending ... He's only targeting non-24 hour petrol stations. That way he has time to do his work."
While the places being burgled are alarmed, Mr Berry said the burglars are usually in and out by the time police and security arrive.
As a result police are now stepping up their patrols of non-24 hour petrol stations in the hope they might catch the burglars in the act or at least deter them from striking again. They are also working closely with BP which has been hit at least eight times.
Mr Berry said the frequencies between the robberies is escalating, with four places - including a video shop, bank and pharmacy - being targeted on Wednesday night. Twelve of the 16 burglaries have happened this month.
It is not clear why the burglars moved away from petrol stations that night but by the early hours of yesterday morning they had returned to their usual ways, this time the BP in Ridge Rd Howick, which was also hit on July 1.
Police are also looking at several similar cases in West Auckland but say it's too early to confirm if they are the work of the same burglars.
One of the men is described as a male caucasian in his late teens or early 20s. He is about 1.8m tall and of medium build and often wears a red cap. In one burglary he is seen outside wearing one outfit, but changes before breaking into the store.
The other man is described as Maori or Pacific Islander and is seen in one lot of security footage wearing white gloves and a black hoodie with white spots on it. Police think one of the men might be acting as a lookout while the other breaks into the stores.
Anyone with information about who they might be is asked to call Mr Berry at Howick police station (538 0669) or the North Shore confidential txt line 027 2727 669.
GOING FOR BROKE
Operation Rhino - Citywide spate of Burglaries
* 24 May, Shell Cascades Rd, Highland Park
* 26 June, Caltex Coliseum Drive, Albany
* 26 June, Four Square Red Beach Rd, Red Beach
* 17 June, BP Chapel Rd, Botany
* 1 July, BP Ridge Rd, Howick
* 3 July, BP East Coast Rd, Pinehill
* 6 July, BP Chapel Rd, Botany
* 6 July, BP Onewa Rd, Northcote
* 8 July, Caltex Sandspit Rd, Cockle Bay
* 8 July, BP Mokoia Rd, Birkenhead
* 8 July, BP Whangaparaoa Rd, Whangaparaoa
* 9 July, Failed attempt at ASB, Highland Park
* 9 July, Aviemore Pharmacy, Aviemore Dr Highland Park
* 9 July, Blockbuster Ti Rakau Drive, Botany
* 9 July, Mobil Ti Rakau Drive, Pakuranga
* 10 July, BP Ridge Rd, Howick
