Auckland police have been extremely busy overnight with several businesses targeted by thieves in smash-and-grabs and ram raids.
Police confirmed to Newshub there were five burglaries throughout Auckland in the space of two hours.
The first burglary was a ram raid at the Ponsonby Superette on Ponsonby Road at around 1:30am.
A police spokesperson said a vehicle was left at the scene while a second car was used to flee the scene.
Police spotted the second vehicle a "short time later" and spiked it, resulting in three teenagers being arrested.
Police said an 18-year-old man will appear in Auckland District Court on Tuesday on charges of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, burglary by night and assaulting police.
A 17-year-old man will appear in Auckland Youth Court on charges of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle and burglary by night while a 16-year-old man will be referred to youth services.
At the same time as the first burglary, a group of youths ram raided X Vape store on Meadowland Drive in Howick and stole disposable vapes.
Police said enquiries are ongoing to locate the offenders and determine what was stolen.
The fog cannons went off but that didn't stop $15,000 worth of damage...
The manager - who chose not to be identified - says it's the third time the store's been hit.
"Last night there were around four kids, teenagers, showing on the cameras. They were driving a car, and smashed into our store.
He also confirmed he is trying to close some of his 12 vape stores and move out of Auckland.
About 30 minutes later, police responded to reports of two burglaries on Mokoia Road in the suburb of Birkenhead at around 2am.
A scene examination is being conducted at both addresses and enquiries are ongoing, police said.
A restaurant and Business Professional Services Ltd were targted by thieves in a smash-and-grab.
Police also confirmed a smash-and-grab at a dairy on The Esplanade in Campbells Bay at around 3:30am.
Police said a vehicle was not used to gain entry but the thieves fled the scene in a car.
Officers were able to find the vehicle but choose not to pursue it due to "safety concerns", instead they followed at a distance.
"The vehicle was spiked on State Highway 1 link to State Highway 16," police said.
Two teenagers were taken into custody and will be referred to Youth Services.
Police also confirmed the thieves stole vape products and a cash register but they were recovered by officers.
Meanwhile, two teenagers were arrested in Napier last night over several smash-and-grabs and 12 teenagers were arrested in the past week in Rotorua and Taupo...
"I don't think they can stop all the teenagers and criminals doing what they want because there's no cost. They can just drive a car and ram raid and just go.
The Government on Friday topped up its retail crime prevention fund to $15 million and said its expanded youth programme Kotahi te Whakaaro had seen success with 82 percent of youth referred to the programme not reoffending.
But that 'success' is not being felt on the ground...
Sunny Kaushal of the Dairy Owners Association said it is too early to tell if things will improve.
"We haven't seen the results so far, that's what the question is and in regard to the funding announcement, look, we do not need any more bandaids, what we need is actions.
Actions like harsher punishments that Kaushal hopes would finally put an end to this.
