Super Liquor Rotorua Central on Fenton St targeted again

A Rotorua liquor store has been targeted again, one week after a ram-raid caused thousands of dollars worth of damage at the premises.

A police spokeswoman said police were informed that a vehicle had reversed into the Super Liquor Rotorua Central on Fenton St about 4am today.

"The offender or offenders don't appear to have gained entry and have driven off.

"Inquiries were ongoing."

Store manager Andre Watson said it had been "a miserable morning".

"You know it's not going to be good news when your phone rings that early."

Store manager Andre Watson. Photo / Andrew Warner

Watson said the ram-raiders had backed into one of the store windows but were stopped by the grille.

"It was the next one over from [the door they broke last week]. They gave the grille a good shake and tried again and then drove off."

Watson said he and the staff had been on site since about 4.30am cleaning and sweeping up broken glass.

"We'll be open for business as usual. There's nothing else to do.

"So we'll be here, smiling for every customer who comes in."

Last Wednesday, the front doors of the store were severely damaged by a ram-raid and alcohol was taken, costing thousands of dollars.

Damage at the Super Liquor Rotorua Central store this morning. Photo / Andrew Warner

James Magatogia, who runs commercial operations for the store's owner, said when he got the call his first thought was, "not again".

His second thought was, "s***".

Magatogia said today's incident had caused thousands of dollars worth of damage again because when the ram-raiders smashed through the window and hit the grille, they smashed a beer display on the other side.

"I've had to call two staff in on their day off."

Magatogia said the raid happened at 3.57am.

RNZ reported last week there had been a 400 per cent increase in ram-raids in five years - and 76 per cent of those being caught were under the age of 18.

Data released by New Zealand Police under the Official Information Act showed 436 ram-raids had been carried out in the year ending June 2022.

That figure was more than double the 12 months before it, when there were 191 ram-raids recorded.

In the same 12 months five years ago, there were 84 ram-raids recorded, RNZ reported.

Between November 2020 and October 2021 there were 53 ram-raid occurrences in the Bay of Plenty Region.

Police data showed the top two targets were retail locations, 31 per cent of ram-raids, and dairies or superettes at 30 per cent.

The highest proportion of items successfully stolen were cash registers. But the most targeted items were cigarettes. Alcohol was the fourth most stolen commodity.

Nationally, some children as young as seven years old have been arrested following ram-raid style thefts.

According to Ministry of Social Development figures, one in 20 New Zealand children are known to police for offending before reaching 14 years old. Boys are twice as likely as girls to offend as children.

On July 13, Police Minister Chris Hipkins and Justice Minister Kiri Allan unveiled a package of measures to help make communities safer.

These included adding watches, jewellery, precious metals and stones, motor vehicles and boats to the list of high value goods prohibited for sale for cash over a specified value.

The announcement also expanded the range of offences where police can seize and impound cars, motorbikes and other vehicles.