A brazen daylight ram raid has netted thieves about $20,000 worth of power tools from a Hamilton store.
A brazen daylight ram raid has netted thieves about $20,000 worth of power tools from a Hamilton store.
The men, wearing disguises and dark clothing, smashed a ute through the glass double doors of The ToolShed on Anglesea St at 7.30am today and can be seen in CCTV footage franticallygrabbing boxes of power tools.
Store co-owner Graeme Giles said the men appeared to know what they were looking for as they weren't inside for long.
"They just grabbed a whole heap of power tools and took off."
They only grabbed De Walt and Milwaukee brands, he said.
Graeme Giles, [right], co-owner of The ToolShed Hamilton, helps out in the clean up of the store after a ram raid just after 7.30am today. Photo / Belinda Feek
"They were only in there for about 30 seconds, so they couldn't get too many."
However, Giles believes the damage to the store will end up costing more as they have to replace the automatic glass double doors.
The thieves left smashed glass strewn in the shop and car park and down the road.
The Hamilton City Council temporarily closed the road and sent in a street sweeper to clean it up before peak hour traffic.
Waikato police Senior Sergeant Pete van de Wetering said they received a call from a member of the public at 7.38am.
The thieves used a stolen silver 2010 Nissan Navara ute in the raid, he said.
Graeme Giles, [right], co-owner of The ToolShed Hamilton, helps out in the clean up of the store after a ram raid just after 7.30am today. Photo / Belinda Feek
"Ironically, it was a building company's work vehicle, stolen from a Dinsdale [Hamilton] address about 8pm last night."
Van de Wetering said at least two men were involved, however there could have been up to four.
Police are now urging anyone who may have seen the vehicle as it fled north on Anglesea St before turning left onto Rostrevor St, to call them immediately.
"You could probably suggest that the offenders are local and will be here in the region and will either still be in possession of the tools or they will be transferring some of the stolen tools and equipment to perhaps another vehicle or getting it moved to other offenders.
"If [you] have seen anything, call Hamilton police or Crimestoppers."
Anyone who sees the vehicle, registration beginning FLR, should call 111 immediately.
![Graeme Giles, [right], co-owner of The ToolShed Hamilton, helps out in the clean up of the store after a ram raid just after 7.30am today. Photo / Belinda Feek](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/VCFZSMB7Y53LP6XBASK4KLFZZI.jpg?auth=9d98ea071fc104e782f70b256b1ae61008d8ddb201c179aa7d3689095abd99e1&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
![Graeme Giles, [right], co-owner of The ToolShed Hamilton, helps out in the clean up of the store after a ram raid just after 7.30am today. Photo / Belinda Feek](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/W42HCM3ZOXLDU3I6X53I2EV27Q.jpg?auth=fa169227d3bd897fc63c19297e3e3d188b44d1d863cd39b117124f7f251c906d&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)