A Michael Hill store in Auckland has been targeted by a group of five thieves in a brazen smash-and-grab this afternoon.
Police were called to Westgate’s NorthWest Shopping Centre at 3.45pm after receiving reports of an aggravated robbery at the mall.
“At this time no injuries are reported, police are making inquiries to determine the circumstances of the incident and locate the offenders,” a spokesperson said.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin later said five offenders entered the mall and smashed cabinets at the jewellery store.
They took a number of items before fleeing in a vehicle that police located abandoned in nearby Regents Park a short time later.
“The offenders left in a second vehicle which has not yet been located.”
Inquiries are ongoing to locate the offenders and the stolen items, Baldwin said.
Auckland police recently launched Operation Dusk aimed at investigating recent offending at jewellery stores.
A Newmarket store was allegedly robbed on April 14 after previously being ram-raided by a group of hooded thieves on April 12.
On April 14, a store in St Lukes was also robbed, and on April 18, dramatic footage showed a group of alleged armed thieves fleeing from Dress Smart in Onehunga.
Baldwin said the Operation Dusk team will review and assess whether Sunday’s incident is linked to previous robberies.
“Police will continue to have an increased presence in and around shopping centres and malls and will continue to prioritise prevention patrols over the coming weeks.”