Haumoana Four Square ram raided for second time in a month

A man was captured on CCTV standing and filming as a car repeatedly rammed the storefront of a Hawke’s Bay coastal community’s Four Square, the store owner says.

The break-in at the Cape View Four Square on Clifton Rd in Haumoana at 11.30pm on Thursday was the second ram raid of the store in a month.

The smash, which store owner Michael Percy said was caused by the car driving back and forwards 20 times, damaged the store’s front facade and even the temporary plywood doors put up after the previous ram raid.

Percy said he wasn’t often left without words, but was frustrated, to put it “politely”.

“Finally the rest of the world’s chaos has caught up with us.”

The Cape View Four Square owner Michael Percy in the aftermath of the second ram raid in a month. Photo / Warren Buckland

Percy, who declined to share the footage, said two people could be seen in the car, and one man could be seen filming as the car rammed the storefront.

The ram raiders made slow progress with their destruction, because their car was hitting the produce chiller on the other side.

“They had hit it like 20-something times, trying to move it. They were hitting and hitting.”

The thieves then entered the gap in the wall and took tobacco and cigarettes and a bottle of fizzy out of the fridge on the way out, he said.

A police spokesperson said a “significant amount” of items had been stolen, and those involved had left the store in another vehicle.

A scene guard was in place overnight and further forensic inquiries were underway on Friday, as well as a review of CCTV footage, the spokesperson said.

Cape View Four Square in Haumoana was targeted in an overnight ram raid for the second time in a month. Photo / Warren Buckland

Percy said he had owned the store with his wife Marie for 11 and a half years and was saddened at the actions of the ram raiders.

He said after the previous ram raid in April, vapes were locked away at night and none were taken this time.

Cape View Four Square ram raid aftermath. Photo / Warren Buckland

Percy said temporary stabilisers were being installed at the front of the building on Friday to secure the roof to make the store structurally sound.

They planned to make “minor tweaks” to how they operate the store, and were awaiting the installation of bollards.

Last month’s ram raid was at the end of the school holidays and smashed the front glass doors of the Haumoana store.

Police said a stolen Mazda Demio was rammed into the front entrance about 12.35am on April 20.

They have asked anyone with information to come forward.