Thieves hit a cop's shop a second time

Damage to the Eastern Bays Skate Shop in Glendowie. Photo / Supplied

Even a police officer - whose partner's skate shop was hit in a smash and grab robbery - needed to prompt investigators, it has been claimed.

The Eastern Bays Skate store in Auckland was hit by thieves in a late night "ram raid" on April 16.

The store is owned by the partner of Counties Manukau intelligence officer John Kelly.

Three thieves smashed through the front door in a stolen car, making off with more than $20,000 worth of skating equipment and designer clothing.

The shop posted pictures of the damage done by the robbers on Facebook.

Kelly commented underneath one: "Late night shopping..........."

His intelligence unit was advised when a stolen car linked to the robbery was found a few days later in Mt Eden.

A police spokeswoman said Kelly had remained well clear of the investigation.

"Although he is a police officer, he is also a business owner. He was a victim of crime. He hasn't done any investigation or reviewed any evidence."

However, a store worker said there had been frustrations because no arrests had been made or stolen gear recovered.

The store worker said: "Police come in and check up every so often. They have got no leads. I don't think they are going to have any luck.

"[Kelly] has been trying. I just think he's been talking with them and trying to give them a hurry-up."

It was the second time the store had been hit in four months. No one has been caught for the earlier crime either.

Kelly's partner, Karen Underhill, said the couple had been well briefed by the police and she was happy with how it had been handled.

Constable Nigel Allen of Glen Innes police said officers hoped to make an arrest soon.

Smash and grabs are becoming an increasingly common tactic by opportunistic thieves.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Mt Wellington Tactical Crime Unit on (09) 526 7357.