KEY POINTS:
Police are looking for a white Subaru WRX sti sports car and its four occupants who are linked to a series of overnight burglaries in Wellington.
The 2007/2008 car has panel damage to the front and driver's side after it rammed a parked police car in Miramar.
The Subaru, which has round front headlights, white or clear tail lights and tinted rear windows, also has a broken rear passenger window after a police officer tried to stop it driving off by smashing the window with his baton.
Detective Sergeant Glenn Williams, Wellington CIB, said the car was involved with at least three overnight burglaries and the siphoning of some petrol.
"We also believe this car may be linked to a series of burglaries last week which featured a white sports car," he said.
The first of last night's burglaries happened at 12.20am when a brick was thrown through the window of a dairy in Darlington Road, Miramar.
A member of the public saw what was happening, tried to chase the offenders but lost them and called police.
At 1.46am a dairy in Mills Road, Brooklyn, was hit. The offenders smashed a window and were seen leaving with bags of cigarettes.
At 2.20am the BP Service Station in Ottawa Road, Ngaio, was targeted. An attempt was made to jemmy a back door but the offenders were disturbed and fled.
Mr Williams said a police patrol spotted petrol being siphoned from a car in Glamis Avenue, near Broadway in Miramar, at 3.27am.
The patrol stopped and the officers ran toward the group of young men who fled in the white Subaru. As they left, the police patrol car was rammed and damaged.
Police are also investigating reports a white sports car was linked to burglaries in the Thorndon, city, Karori and Newtown areas on Monday and Tuesday nights last week. Cigarettes, money and a flat screen television were taken.
CCTV footage is being checked to get better descriptions.
"There appears to be a pattern of offending with this group of young men and the Subaru," Mr Williams said.
"We want to catch them before any more damage is done."
People who have information about the Subaru WRX Sti, its owner or people associated with it should contact Wellington police on 04 381 2000 and ask for the burglary squad.
- NZPA
