Two more Auckland gas stations were burgled overnight, the latest in a series of incidents in the city.
Police are investigating both and a staff member was assaulted in one of the burglaries.
The first occurred at a Caltex in Remuera. Police were alerted at about 11.30pm.
"At this stage we have established four male offenders arrived at the store, which was closed at the time, at around 11.06pm," a police spokesperson said this morning. "The offenders smashed a glass window to gain entry to the premises.
"A range of merchandise in the store has been stolen, before the offenders got back into and left in a green station wagon they arrived in.
"The Air Support Unit also responded to the area when the burglary was reported, locating the vehicle abandoned in a nearby street."
Hours later, a Z Energy station in Green Bay was hit. Police were alerted to the Godley Rd incident at about 6.50am.
A "range of merchandise" was stolen in the robbery, which followed a number of other similar recent incidents. (Source: Supplied)
"At this stage, it has been reported a group of offenders were seen in the store and jumping over the counter," police said.
"A staff member has been assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
"The offenders fled the site in a vehicle, which has been located abandoned at Craigavon Park."
Anyone with information on either incident was urged to call 105.
A Z spokesperson said the company has invested $33m in safety and security measures over the past five years.
"Like other retailers, we have seen a rise in retail crime and our priority is managing the safety of our people and our customers.
"Safety is paramount and we will continue to invest in measures to protect our team."
A number of other burglaries at gas stations have occurred in Auckland over recent days.
A Caltex station on West Coast Rd Glen Eden was targeted early yesterday morning, while a Papatoetoe station was hit on Monday night.
Eight people brazenly robbed Western Springs Caltex on Sunday morning.
Earlier this week Motor Trade Association chief executive Lee Marshall said the risk of an attack is an everyday reality for many fuel stations.
"At this rate, we're headed for the kind of hell you see in Florida where gas station operators need to hide behind inch-thick steel bars for protection. We seriously need to ask ourselves if that's a future we want," Marshall said.
"Most local gas stations are small, locally owned and operated franchises, and the pain of repeated robberies takes a toll not only on the business financially, but also on the physical and mental health of workers.
"The Government has talked tough on tackling crime, but we now need some action, and there are some small practical steps that can be quickly enacted."
SHARE ME