Second Vape2go store vandalised in a week

A shopkeeper whose Auckland store was targeted overnight in the latest spate of ram raids says it was something he had been expecting but it was still horrible to go through.

Vape2go Birkenhead is one of a six businesses that had shopfronts wrecked and goods stolen in a series of smash-and-grab robberies. He is calling on the Government for immediate action to put an end to ongoing strain on their trade.

Security footage shows two people in dark clothing and hoods breaking into the store using hammers to smash through the front door before ransacking cabinets of thousands of dollars worth of goods in a 60-second raid.

With little left of the glass double front door other than the heavy metal handles lying on a footpath, Vape 2Go Birkenhead’s Ying Wang said it was not a good situation to be in.

“We are a franchise and many other stores had been affected, so we knew one day it would hit us, but did not expect it to be this extensive.

“Every shop seems to be burgled. The Government needs to help us and protect us from this horrible situation.”

This was the second Vape2go store to be vandalised in a week.

“We can’t rule out that our refusal to sell e-cigarettes to minors under the new policy has led to retaliation,” said the store manager.

O¯ ra¯kei’s Kepa Road Superette’s shopkeeper, Ritesh Patel, said he had bollards and iron grille installed to protect his shop, however the offenders were not deterred by them.

“It seems like they have used a belt to pull the grille out, by tying one end to it and the other to their car, but they were unsuccessful. They managed to get in between the grilles and into the store. They must have been very young.”

Patel said it was a frustrating situation to come to and he had just got used to it.

“The law is ineffective. We can’t do anything else,” the exasperated shopkeeper said.

Neighbouring Oliver Bakehouse was also broken into following the raid on the superette, with the offenders smashing the windows to gain entry.

Patel said the till was stolen from the bakery.

Just after midnight, Liquorland Takanini was burgled with empty cigarette drawers left discarded outside the store.

Eyewitness Gurwinder Bajwa said he was driving home on Great South

Rd from his gym when he saw four teenagers breaking into the liquor store.

“I immediately parked my car to the nearby street and rang 111. I saw four of the boys trying to get in the store, the alarm was very loud. I could not see the number plate of their car as it was raining quite heavily, but it was a silver-grey car.

“The whole incident lasted for three minutes,” Bajwa said.

The car then drove off in the opposite direction, and police came to the scene shortly after, he said. The store was taped off as officers worked inside.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said over 30 people had been caught and 200 charges laid after the establishment of the police retail unit targeting ram raids and smash and grabs.

— Akula Sharma