Multiple arrests made after spate of Akl jewellery store robberies

Eight arrests have been made this week following a spate of aggravated robberies at jewellery stores across Auckland, police said.

Auckland police recently launched Operation Dusk aimed at investigating offending at jewellery stores last month.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said police have executed several search warrants over the last five days in relation to the following incidents.

Six offenders targeted a jewellery store on Newmarket’s Broadway around 8.55pm on April 12.

"A stolen Toyota Aqua reversed into the store on Broadway, while several staff were closing,” Detective Sergeant Joseph Niupopo said in a statement at the time.

Employees locked themselves in a back room while the thieves used hammers and tyre irons to break cabinets.

Baldwin said three people aged between 17 and 18 have been charged in relation to the incident.

“A fourth person, aged 14, has since been referred to Youth Aid.”

Police are also seeking the location of 18-year-old Vallen Chapman in the wake of the ram-raid.

“It is understood Chapman is evading police and we are now asking for assistance from the community to assist us with locating him,” a spokesperson said.

“Anyone who sees him should call police on 111 as soon as possible.”

The Operation Dusk team are actively making inquiries and are continuing to seek further people believed to be involved.

Six thieves, one armed with a machete, stole jewels and gold from a south Auckland jewellery store in 45 seconds of violent pillaging captured on security camera on April 25.

Footage from the brazen Anzac Day heist provided to 1News shows the group storming into the Manurewa store with weapons just before closing time.

Police have referred a 14-year-old to Youth Aid regarding an alleged aggravated robbery at a Manurewa jewellery store.

Baldwin said the team were following "positive lines of inquiry" to locate others in relation to this incident.

Police teams executed a search warrant at a Glendene address today where a 17-year-old was arrested for his alleged involvement in an aggravated robbery at a Hillsborough bar on April 25.

Baldwin said he appeared in the Waitākere Youth Court today charged with aggravated robbery and unlawfully getting into a stolen vehicle.

“A 12-year-old was also located at the address today and arrested in relation to an unrelated matter.

“A second 17-year-old had previously been arrested in relation to this incident and has since been charged with aggravated robbery.”

Baldwin said he was proud of the progress Operation Dusk has made to hold offenders to account for this "awful and alarming" series of offending.

"Further arrests are anticipated, as the team continues to assess and analyse evidence seized during a number of search warrants that have been executed."

Inquiries into incidents at St Lukes, Onehunga, and a second incident in Newmarket remain ongoing.

Police are confident of further arrests in due course, Baldwin said.

“To date, our teams have conducted hundreds of patrols and are visible in our communities.

“The community deserves better than to be subject to this concerning and unacceptable incidents and we hope the work our team has executed to date is an example that we are taking this type of crime seriously."

Police will continue to be visible in and around shopping centres in the region.