Shoppers at Bayfair Shopping Centre in Mount Maunganui this afternoon were greeted by the sight of a brazen ‘smash-and-grab’ robbery at the Michael Hill store.
Around 3 PM, four masked offenders armed with weapons broke into the store, setting off alarms and a fog cannon, and stole jewellery. They escaped in a vehicle which was later found abandoned. The shopping centre was evacuated, causing panic among shoppers.
Footage of the robbery was shared widely on social media.
Thieves are now targeting public shopping areas (Bayfair at the mount this afternoon) because they think they have the upper hand.
No consequences.
Police will stop chasing them if they go fast.
Criminologists will apologise for them.
They’ll be told their rights but not… pic.twitter.com/WZ8Q1FZ3Te— 𝓑𝓸𝓫 𝓜𝓬𝓒𝓸𝓼𝓴𝓻𝓲𝓮 (@bobmccoskrienz) January 27, 2024
The incident marks the third robbery at this Michael Hill store in 10 months, following similar events in March and June of last year.
Michael Hill stores have been frequent targets for theft, including raids at Auckland’s LynnMall. These incidents involved masked offenders using tools or hammers to smash display cases and steal items.
In response the company has installed fog cannons and other security measures in their stores, particularly in Auckland. The fog cannons, costing up to $6,000 each, release a mist reducing visibility to about 30cm, intended to deter robbers. Michael Hill’s Takapuna store was permanently closed due to frequent robberies, highlighting the ongoing security challenges for the retailer.
Armed guard > fog cannon.
Two doors. One opens while the other close. A kind of lock
Time to truly prosecute these criminals no more tap on the hand.
Time for jails to reinstate work camps not card playing fun jails
Golriz Garahman has sent a message that shoplifting is ok. When all else fails claim poor mental health. . Retail workers trying to do their jobs are constantly being threatened by these low life crims. Here in Rotorua one staff member was hit in the face by a shoplifter just last week. Nothing about these crimes in the local paper, even when they are reported to police.
What Labour has done to our country is irreparable. Police and courts seem compromised. Even when people are caught the sentences are no deterrent.
Labour trashed NZ
Maybe the insurance claim is more worth than the jewelry junk they sell.
This is why shop owners (who used to be armed at the Mum & Pop dairies) need to have firearms to protect their stock, their customers and themselves!
REPEAL THE COMMUNIST GUN CONTROL LAWS THAT JABBY IMPLEMENTED, AND ALLOW FOR CLASS A FIREARMS LICENCE HOLDERS OWNERSHIP AND ACCESS TO HANDGUNS!
And the so-called ‘security guard’ just watched them then backed away and did nothing!