Five youths have been arrested after several Waikato stores were burgled and damaged this week.
Police allege the youths, travelling in a stolen vehicle, broke into a commercial premises in Cambridge using hammers around 4.20am on October 14.
The premises and items inside were damaged.
A store on Heaphy Tce in Hamilton was then broken into about 5.40am with several items and cash stolen and the store damaged.
On October 15, a second commercial premises was broken into in Cambridge.
The group arrived in a stolen vehicle about 1.30am and used hammers to gain entry before taking items from the store.
The youths then allegedly travelled in a second stolen vehicle to a service station on Naylor St where items were taken and the store damaged.
That same vehicle was then driven to a store on Cambridge Rd in Hillcrest where hammers were used to gain entry to the premises and items stolen.
Police then observed a vehicle that was reported stolen, travelling in Fairview Downs in Hamilton about midday.
Police signalled for the vehicle to stop, however, it failed to do so. The vehicle was found a short time later in Nawton, police said.
Five youths were found at a property near the vehicle and arrested.
The driver escaped through the window and ran away from the crash.