A police hunt is underway for six masked robbers after they allegedly ram-raided a jewellery store in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland overnight.
The group reversed a stolen Toyota Aqua into the store on Broadway, Newmarket just before 9pm on Friday while staff were closing.
They used hammers and tyre irons to smash glass cabinets, Det Sgt Joseph Niupopo said in a statement.
"The employees locked themselves in a back room while six offenders, whose faces were covered, began breaking cabinets and taking jewellery," Niupopo said.
No-one was injured.
The group drove off with "a large quantity of high-end pieces of jewellery" but abandoned the car a short distance away, according to Niupopo.
Officers later found it with some of the stolen haul still inside and forensic examinations are continuing on Saturday.
"This was a distressing incident for the store staff and we are providing them with support as we work to locate the offenders," Niupopo said.
A stocktake of the store will be completed to establish what has been taken.
