Liquor store smashed in ramraid
Police are investigating after a Palmerston North liquor store was targeted in a ramraid.
A police spokesperson said police responded to reports of a ‘‘multiple glass break alarm’’ at Black Bull Rangitīkei at 3.40am yesterday morning.
A stolen vehicle was used to gain entry, with three people heading inside to steal goods.
Officers and contractors were on site at 8.30am yesterday, with large wooden boards ready to be placed over the broken windows.
A shop assistant, who declined to be named, said the damage was cleaned up very quickly. ‘‘We got the call in the morning to come down at around 8am. The police and forensic team were there and they took down any traces of fingerprints.
‘‘Then the glass people came about an hour later and fixed the window.’’
While staff at the Black Bull liquor store were still calculating the extent of the damage, they said it was a big loss.
‘‘We had a similar ramraid at the other shop on College St and when it happens it’s a big loss.
‘‘But we also know that this is happening a lot more around the country, so we know it’s not just us.’’
Staff said police were incredibly helpful and the shop had handed over its security footage to police for the investigation. Palmerston North’s liquor stores have had a rough year, with Super Liquor in Ferguson St being targeted in September by three men armed with a hatchet and screwdriver.
Meanwhile, Black Bull Liquor’s College St branch experienced six burglaries in the space of a month at the start of the year.
The police spokesperson said inquiries into the incident were ongoing.