A 16-year-old boy was arrested after a Michael Hill store in a Hamilton mall was hit in a smash-and-grab.
The robbery occurred about 11.30am on Sunday at the store in The Base mall.
A retailer told 1News at the time a group dressed in black hoodies and masks entered the store armed with hammers and smashed its glass cases, taking as much jewellery as they could.
A number of stores quickly closed their doors and employees hid under their counters. Some shoppers tried to stop the offenders but were unsuccessful, the retailer said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Saunders said today the teen had been arrested and charged on Monday and had appeared in the Auckland Youth Court yesterday.
Saunders said inquiries are ongoing to identify the other people involved and to recover the stolen property.
He said investigators want to hear from anyone who saw a silver station wagon (similar to the one pictured above) connected to the incident.
It was located abandoned soon after the robbery on Maui St, just south of McKee St.
Investigators want to hear from anyone who saw a suspicious vehicle in the Maui St area between 11am and 12pm on Sunday. Saunders said dash cam or CCTV footage of the street during this time is also wanted.
Earlier on Sunday a security guard at the Chartwell Shopping Centre was hospitalised after a smash-and-grab of several stores. The security guard had been parked in a vehicle nearby when burglars approached the car and assaulted the guard before fleeing.
The security guard was taken to the hospital to receive an assessment for their facial injuries.
Saunders said officers are continuing to investigate the burglary and "cowardly assault".
"The investigation team is making good progress on inquiries into this incident, including whether there is any connection with the aggravated robbery at The Base."
Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact police via 105 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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