Smash-and-grab crime spree hits West Auckland stores

Photo / Steven McNicholl

Police are on the hunt for a group of men who used stolen cars during a crime spree across West Auckland yesterday.

The men smashed their way into at least five shops between Massey and New Lynn in about three hours.

Police say several other incidents may also be connected to the group, consisting of five or six men aged between 16 and 22.

At 2.14am, the group tried to break into the New World Supermarket on Godley Rd in Green Bay.

Police spokeswoman Natalie Swart said the men failed to get into the store and left in a silver Honda Civic stolen from Northcote Pt on Sunday and a blue Toyota Rav 4 stolen from Beauchamp Drive in Massey.

At 2.59am, the men pulled up outside Stirling Sports at the Westgate Shopping Centre on Hobsonville Rd.

"They smashed the front windows and at least three or four of them went inside the shop," Ms Swart said.

They were confronted by a security guard and threw a display stand from inside the shop at him before fleeing.

The guard was not hurt.

A 4:06 the men smashed their way into Kitchen House on Lincoln Rd in Henderson, stealing two leather couches and several appliances.

The store manager said security guards arrived soon after the alarm went off but the thieves had gone.

"They smashed through the front door and took a two-seater and a three-seater," she said.

The men went to New Lynn and smashed into Moreland Fabrics on Veronica St.

Police are still trying to establish the exact time of the break-in, and what was stolen.

Staff at Briscoes in Henderson said someone had tried to smash their way into the store. Police were reviewing CCTV images and hoped to get clear pictures of the men.

QUICK THIEVES

Shops hit yesterday:

* New World, Godley Rd, Green Bay.
* Stirling Sports, Westgate, Massey.
* Kitchen House, Lincoln Rd, Henderson.
* Moreland Fabrics, Veronica St, New Lynn (not pictured).
* Briscoes, Vitasovich Ave, Henderson.