Police are investigating yet another burglary at a Christchurch dairy after a break-in early on Thursday morning.
Thieves broke into the Cosy Nook Dairy on Main South Rd at approximately 4:30am.
Owner Chris Chen Chen told Newshub they came through the back door and headed straight for the cigarette cabinet.
The cigarette cabinet door was torn off the wall (Newshub)
"They broke in the back door and damaged the cabinet unit and took the tobacco and cigarette stocks. They damaged the tobacco unit quite fast."
Mr Chen believes the burglars were in-store for five or six minutes, causing thousands of dollars of damage.
Police said no one was in the property at the time of the burglary. They couldn't confirm how much stock was taken.
Over the past few months several convenience stores have been targeted by armed burglars, while other shops have been broken into late at night.
The spike has prompted police to increase patrols and warn dairy owners to upgrade their security. Mr Chen's store was alarmed.
A Night 'n Day store was burgled just over a week ago by three people brandishing weapons, who stole cash and cigarettes.
Newshub.
