Ram raids in Auckland: liquor store targeted for eighth time, armed heist at dairy

Police are investigating more burglaries in Auckland overnight – including an armed robbery at a dairy and shop targeted by ram robbers on eight occasions.

West Auckland Police are appealing to the public for any reports of an armed robbery at a dairy in West Harbor last night.

Authorities were called to the Clearwater Cove dairy shortly after 6 p.m.

“Two men entered the store armed with a weapon at 6:15 p.m. They took cash from the till and then left the store,” a spokeswoman said.

It is unclear what type of weapon was used or if anyone was injured.

However, officers are calling anyone who may have been in and around the area at the time who may have seen the two people involved or anything else suspicious to come forward.

Officers were then called to Ōrākei Fine Wines & Spirits liquor stores on Coates Ave just before 4am after reports of a vehicle being used in a ram-type robbery.

Fine Wines & Spirits liquor store was targeted by ram robbers overnight. Photo / Hayden Woodward” class=”article-media__image responsively-lazy” data-test-ui=”article-media__image”/>

The vehicle, a Nissan Tilda, was left at the scene and towed away.

Photos show the devastation left at the store – with shattered glass and smashed wine and liquor bottles left strewn on the ground inside and outside the store.

The owner arrived devastated at the scene in front of him; telling the Herald that this was the eighth ram raid on his store.

“Eight times it’s happened to me. Eight times – eight times,” he said repeatedly.

“The store next door has been hit three times in the past four months.

“I asked for bollards and got nothing. I’m not asking for money. I just want permission for bollards.”

He said he hoped the media coverage would help people understand what was happening to people like him.

A block of shops in Howick hit by thieves

Five other shops in a shopping block in Howick were also targeted overnight – this time in smash-and-grab burglaries.

Police were called to a shopping complex on Moore Street shortly after 3 a.m. after reports that several grocery stores had been hit.

Those affected were: Awesome Shop, Yume Sushi, Pizza Club, Fruit World and Bin Inn: Wholefoods & Specialty Groceries.

It is understood that the establishments were targeting the cash registers of each respective store.

Officers inspected each outlet – all of which soon had police tape blocking their respective entrances.

Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown was appalled by the nightly rampage, saying it was the result of government policies that failed to hold criminals accountable.

“I am shocked to hear that five stores were robbed in Howick overnight.

“It will be heartbreaking for business owners and their staff and I hope the perpetrators are quickly brought to justice.

It is the direct result of a soft on crime Labor government that has focused on emptying our prisons rather than holding criminals accountable.”

• Can you help ? Anyone with information that could help the police investigate any of the incidents is asked to call the police immediately on 105 or CrimeStoppers anonymous on 0800 555 111.