A man with "super-human strength" has damaged businesses in Christchurch's CBD after he ripped off a bolted-in statue and went on a smashing spree.
It comes as businesses at the heart of the city grapple with crime.
A police spokesperson told Newshub at around 3:50am on Tuesday there was a "breach of peace" report on Oxford Terrace.
"The informant reported hearing smashing sounds," the spokesperson said.
"It looks like a person was taken into custody around this time in the area."
The owner of Little Fiddle, one of the businesses on the Oxford Terrace, said the man ripped two concrete installations outside one of the restaurants and proceeded to smash windows along the precinct.
"He had superhuman strength," they said.
"He grabbed two of the statues that are outside Bangalore [Polo Club], he somehow managed to rip them off the walls, and then he used them to smash windows."
The owner said the man didn't enter the premises and there was no staff inside at the time.
They said the man took a quick break and then preceded to damage the restaurant and bar Amazonita and cocktail bar Kong.
A spokesperson for Vieceli Hospitality Ltd which owns multiple bars in Christchurch including Amazonita and the Bangalore Polo Club told Newshub they had to close for most of the day to clean up and repair the damage.
"We are very disappointed about what happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The incident has caused significant damage to multiple venues along The Terrace and required us to close for most of the day on Tuesday.
"Police were on the scene promptly and arrested the man in question. Our cleaners were on site at the time and as you can imagine were very shaken after the incident.
"We are grateful that no one was hurt and they managed to get away to a safe place."
Newshub has contacted the owners of Kong but has not received a response.
The incident comes after 80 businesses from throughout the Canterbury region signed a joint letter in December requesting an urgent response from the Government towards crime.
They said they are growing increasingly concerned about the incidences of crime and antisocial behaviour impacting businesses and residents and can no longer sit back while people are in a "constant state of fear".
