Cigarettes stolen in Napier dairy ram raid, witness almost hit by fleeing vehicle

The scene of the ram-raid on Tuesday night. Photo / Supplied

The owner of a dairy targetted in a ram-raid in Napier has lost his door and at least a day's business, all because thieves wanted cigarettes.

The Pirimai Food Market on Trinity Cres was targetted on Tuesday at 8.05pm, and the store owner told Hawke's Bay Today it was fortunate no staff were on the premises after hours.

"They took cigarettes - I don't know how much as I have yet to do a stocktake. They damaged the front door, smashed it to get inside."

The shop was closed today after the ram-raid, which ended when the vehicle sped away with "no lights on".

A witness said her car was almost hit by the fleeing vehicle.

"We must have come past just as or after it happened," she said.

"We turned around and went back and I took a picture. The white car in the picture sped off around the corner with no lights on almost hitting us before the police got there."

A police spokesperson said the vehicle involved had been located by police and a scene guard was in place overnight.

There have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing.