Raiders hit two Bay stores in quick succession

Two burglars attempted to smash open the cigarette case at Bay View Mobil.

Two Hawke's Bay stores were raided just hours apart and in identical fashion.

Bay View Mobil was the victim of a smash and grab job by a hooded pair about 11.20 on Wednesday night, while Silver Birch Dairy in Clive was burgled about 1.30am.

The Bay View Mobil manager said two people in dark hooded clothing and wielding crowbars targeted the petrol station, also known as J Young Motors, soon after the Main North Rd garage closed at 9pm.

He said it was the first time burglars had used the front door to break in and that the pair had made for the "expensive cigarettes".

"They usually use the back door, it's a bit darker back there," the manager said.

"We have a piercing alarm, as well, so I think that may have stopped them for staying here too long, they were only in the store for about a minute and a half."

CCTV footage of the break-in shows one of the pair growing frustrated and lashing out at the cigarette safe with his crowbar after being foiled several times by the metal case.

Wednesday night's burglary came after an incident on June 12 this year, when two people robbed the service station at knifepoint, leaving staff shocked and scared. "We had the armed hold-up a little while back and that was really scary, this time thankfully they did it while no one was here."

There were no injuries to staff members during the June robbery but the garage's manager said yesterday his staff were still a little shaken and wary of people entering the premises wearing dark or hooded clothing.

Security cameras capture the Silver Birch Dairy raiders.

A little more than two hours after the Mobil burglary, Silver Birch Dairy owner Balwender Singh was the victim of two brazen and determined offenders.

"They came through the sliding window at the front of the store," he said.

It was the first time the shop had been burgled during the year he had owned it. He said $15,000 worth of tobacco was lifted by the pair in just 15 minutes because the burglars came prepared with bolt cutters to use on the cigarette case.

Police said yesterday it was possible the two incidents were related and investigations into both were ongoing. Anyone with information relating to the two incidents is urged to contact Napier police or leave information anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.