A Gisborne business owner has been left reeling after an overnight ram-raid caused an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 in damage and stolen products.
Krual Shah has owned Makaraka Veges store for two years but said he has never started a day quite like today.
At about 4am, Shah was woken to an alarm after about “six to seven” people entered his shop after a car smashed through the entrance.
He said an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 was lost in the incident, mainly from damage to the building. Stolen products mostly consisted of tobacco, chocolate and vapes.
In CCTV footage supplied to 1News, a car can be seen smashing through the front of the store, followed by the group entering and taking fallen cabinets.
Shah said he was shocked by the incident, as his family-owned store is located in a “safe” area and is well-known in the community after being there for some time.
“I wasn’t expecting the amount of damage.”
But after word of the incident got out, Shah said some locals came to help with the clean up, which was “very good”.
“About 15 to 20 people came in and helped us … it was staff, family … some staff came in [to help] who weren’t supposed to be at work.”
Police told 1News it was notified of the incident at about 4.05am, and confirmed “a car had been used to gain access to the store”.
“A group of offenders entered the store and took a range of items. Inquiries are ongoing to identify and locate the offenders.”
