A top detective says police are following "positive lines of inquiry" into a series of brazen robberies at Auckland jewellery stores this month.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin also urged the public to remain patient while investigations are ongoing.
Several jewellery stores in the city were hit by thieves in recent weeks.
Yesterday, CCTV footage was released from an Anzac Day heist, showing a group of six alleged offenders, one armed with a machete, clearing out a Manurewa store.
Footage from a brazen Anzac Day shows a group of robbers storming into a Manurewa store with weapons just before closing time. (Source: 1News)
Auckland police recently launched Operation Dusk aimed at investigating recent offending at jewellery stores.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Baldwin said police were "following positive lines of inquiry" to find those responsible for the recent robberies.
"What has been going on over the last few weeks is deeply alarming and terrifying for the shopping community," he said.
"But I can assure you, we’ve got a team working very hard to investigate those matters, and we are following positive lines of inquiry."
Last night, a 27-year-old man was arrested for his alleged role in a brazen daylight smash-and-grab at a Micheal Hill in Westgate.
Baldwin said the "investigation is progressing" but people should "appreciate it takes time".
He said officers were reviewing CCTV footage and conducting forensics on vehicles.
"We are in the business of proving stuff beyond reasonable doubt, so we need to be operating in a proper diligent manner in order to hold these people to account."
The detective inspector called on the public to be "our eyes and ears", and report suspicious activity at the outset before crimes occurred.
"When people see that suspicious behaviour, early reporting is really important. The sooner we know about something, the sooner we can respond, and we can get there."
Baldwin also urged the public to avoid engaging with offenders while a robbery was taking place.
"[Offenders] are amped up — they are driven. But what they are driven to do is to steal stuff so, if they are confronted, that elevates that risk of somebody getting hurt in a massive way.”
In other recent robberies, a Newmarket store was allegedly hit 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.
Two thieves, one holding what appears to be a weapon, can be seen getting into a waiting vehicle as shoppers run. (Source: 1News)
PM: 'I know the public is sick of it'
Asked this morning on Breakfast about the robberies, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was "sick of it".
"I know the public is sick of it, and New Zealanders do deserve to feel safe in their homes, businesses, and communities."
He said the Government was working "incredibly hard"” to address the issue – citing policies such as the three strikes laws and gang laws.
"It takes time. At 150 days, we can’t undo Labour’s soft-on-crime approach, but we are working incredibly hard and fast to make sure that we actually have people feeling safer in New Zealand."
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