Auckland burglaries: Thieves target jewellery, vape and liquor stores overnight

Thieves have targeted retail stores across Auckland overnight, as scenes of disorder continue across the city.

The Michael Hill Newmarket jewellery store, on Broadway, was hit by thieves just before 4am. Police officers were called to the scene quickly.

A witness said security staff had put up privacy screens around the store's entrance shortly afterwards, concealing the damage.

However, bits of glass and other debris were strewn on the ground immediately outside one of the store's large glass windows.

Police staff were spotted examining the scene inside the store.

The incident happened at the same Michael Hill outlet that was the scene of a brazen robbery that left members of the public in shock in July.

Up to five men were seen using baseball bats and metal bars smashing counters in the store in that incident; before grabbing jewellery inside.

A witness told the Herald at the time that they saw their arms filled with items before they took off.

"They wouldn't have been in there for more than 30 seconds - they were so quick."

As well as the latest incident early this morning, authorities responded to a break-in at the Big Barrel Super Liquor Store on Mt Eden Rd.

The Michael Hill Newmarket store was targeted by thieves in the early hours of this morning. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Officers arrived at the scene about 12.14am.

A witness said the emergency glass contractors were quickly called in to board up the entrance.

A third incident was reported just after 2am at The Vape Shed - Glenfield Vape Shop on Bentley Ave on the North Shore.

The latest incidents come a night after several burglaries around the city the night before - including an armed robbery at a dairy in West Auckland and a theft at a liquor store in central Auckland that has now been targeted eight times.

Officers are investigating an armed robbery at a dairy on Clearwater Cove, in West Harbour, just after 6pm on Monday night.

Police confirmed two men armed with a weapon were involved. It is not known what kind of weapon was used.

They took money from the till before leaving, a police spokeswoman said.

A police officer at the Michael Hill Newmarket after it was targeted by thieves in the early hours of this morning. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Police were called to the Ōrākei Fine Wines & Spirits liquor store, on Coates Ave, shortly before 4am yesterday after reports of a ram-raid incident.

Authorities arrived to find the front door smashed in and glass bottles of wine and alcohol broken and littering the floor inside.

The owner told the Herald: "Eight times this has happened to me. Eight times - eight times."

He said he had applied to get bollards installed outside his store front.

However, he was still waiting for the application to be approved and hoped media coverage would allow people to understand what was happening to shop owners like him.

Five shops at a shopping complex in Howick were all broken into in the early hours of yesterday morning - shortly after 3am - in smash-and-grab type burglaries.

Thieves targeted the Awesome Shop, Yume Sushi, Pizza Club, Fruit World and Bin Inn: Wholefoods & Specialty Groceries.

It is understood the establishments were targeted for the cash register machines at each respective store.