Police have arrested a group of teenagers after a spate of smash-and-grab burglaries across Auckland overnight.
The first burglaries where in Pukekohe at 2:55am after a group of offenders got out of a stolen vehicle on King Street. They then tried to break into three separate shops.
Newshub footage shows windows smashed at Michael Hill Jewellers, Stirling Sports and Vodafone.
"Police were called and responded to the area. As staff were arriving another vehicle was seen leaving the area at speed," Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Paea said.
Paea said the vehicle then failed to stop for officers and the police eagle helicopter was dispatched and monitored the vehicle's reckless driving.
"Eagle has observed the car fail to take a corner, crashing into a tree on Paparata Road," Paea said.
All five occupants were assessed by ambulance at the scene and taken into custody.
Paea said those arrested were aged between 13 to 16.
A store owner told Newshub this was the fourth time they'd be targeted.
Meanwhile, further north in Papatoetoe a failed ram-raid attempt occurred a short time later at around 3:10am.
"Police received a report of a vehicle attempting to force entry into a dairy on Carruth Road," Paea said.
"The offenders failed to breach the roller door and have then proceeded to try their hand at smashing their way into the store."
Paea said the offenders were unsuccessful and when police arrived on the scene, the vehicle was seen fleeing at speed.
The vehicle failed to stop for officers but was monitored by the police helicopter until it travelled into Ōtara.
"A short time later Police took the three occupants of the vehicle into custody. They were aged between 15 and 17," Paea said.
"Enquiries remain ongoing into these incidents with enforcement action to follow."
