Thieves smashed their way into three Whangarei businesses over two hours and fled with thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes and tobacco and $3000 of herbal tobacco.
It comes only a few weeks after two other thefts targeting dairies stocking cigarettes and tobacco. Police were yesterday dusting for fingerprints at Pepes Dairy in Onerahi, Stellar Products in Kensington and Foster Food Market Four Square on Maunu Rd following the break-ins between midnight and 2am.
Whangarei police Sergeant Tai Patrick urged anyone who was selling cigarettes or tobacco to take extra steps to ensure their products were locked away.
In two of yesterday's burglaries the thieves had snapped off padlocks to the main tobacco displays and in one case emptied all the bottom drawers of products.
At Pepes Dairy in Onerahi police said two people went to the front door with one of them using a metal bar to force it open.