Shoppers at a Tauranga mall were told to shelter in stores after a group of robbers attacked the Michael Hill Jewellers shop.
It happened at the Bayfair Shopping Centre on Girven Road, about 3pm on Saturday, a police spokesperson said.
The thieves set off the fog cannon and continued to smash glass cabinets before fleeing in a vehicle with stolen jewellery.
Police later found the vehicle abandoned on Alverstoke St about 10 minutes later.
Enquiries are ongoing.