CCTV footage has captured the moment multiple businesses in Auckland's Māngere were smashed in an early morning ram raid, causing $20,000 worth of damage.
Police confirmed officers responded to reports of the burglary at Māngere Town Centre involving a vehicle shortly before 2am.
CCTV footage provided to 1News showed two vehicles, one with a heavily damaged bumper, speeding through the town centre before slamming into the Red Rat storefront.
Alleged offenders were then seen getting out of both cars and attempting to enter the store, before abandoning the car in the storefront and fleeing the scene.
Police said the vehicle did not appear to gain entry to the shops.
"The offenders have left in a different vehicle, which was later located abandoned in Forbury Place," a police spokesperson said.
"The vehicle left at the scene and the other vehicle used have since been towed and will undergo a forensic examination."
Images from the town centre showed two businesses, Red Rat and Deals Bazaar, sustained broken windows, with glass strewn across the pavement, and broken storefront door frames.
Centre manager Dave Fearon said it seemed an "ongoing series of ram raids" has turned to his centre, with this latest incident causing $20,000 worth of damage to stores.
"They've done some damage, but they didn't manage to break into shop they were aiming for."
Fearon said this was the first burglary using a car at the Māngere Town Centre following a "bit of a crime spree this weekend".
"We are beefing up more security, more bollards and cameras. We had hoped these things would die down but they're not," he said.
Police urged anyone with information to call 105 or get in contact anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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