Thieves raid store twice in nine days

Police are investigating whether two ram raids at Partridge Jewellers in Newmarket Mall in just over a week are connected, as staff have again been left picking up the pieces.

Police confirmed they responded to reports of a group of four people entering the store on Broadway wearing masks around 7.30pm on Sunday.

“It is understood the group has taken a number of items before leaving in a vehicle,” police said in a statement.

“The vehicle believed to be involved was located abandoned a short distance away on Maranui St and has been towed for further examination.

“Inquiries are ongoing to understand the full circumstances of what has occurred.”

Police said investigations were also continuing into a ram raid at the same location on April 12 and other recent jewellery store robberies.

“While no arrests have been made at this stage, the investigation team are working through a number of lines of inquiry . . . we are keeping an open mind as to whether these incidents may be connected.”

The Herald has approached Westfield and Partridge Jewellers for comment.

On April 12, employees at the Partridge Jewellers Newmarket store had to flee into a locked back room after a group ram-raided the shop and began smashing cabinets and stealing expensive pieces.

Staff were closing the store about 8.55pm when a stolen Toyota Aqua reversed into the shop.

“The employees locked themselves in a back room while six offenders, whose faces were covered, began breaking cabinets and taking jewellery,” Detective Sergeant Joseph Niupopo said.

The criminals used hammers and tyre irons to smash the cabinets before driving off with a “large quantity of high-end pieces of jewellery”.

Police located the Toyota abandoned a short distance away, with some of the stolen goods still inside.