Lincoln Dairy, south of Christchurch, targeted in ram raid

Ram-raiders smashed their way into a dairy in Lincoln, Christchurch this morning. Photo / Supplied

Police have a major lead in identifying ram-raiders who smashed their way into a dairy south of Christchurch this morning - one of the offenders wasn't masked.

Three offenders - two males wearing hoodies and face masks and a young woman - were involved in the raid on the Lincoln Dairy, in Lincoln, about 5.30am.

Vaping products and a cash float left overnight were stolen.

The raid was captured on the shop's CCTV security cameras, clearly identifying the woman involved, who was not disguised.

It was one of several stores ram-raided overnight in Christchurch and Prebbleton.

Vehicles were smashed into Oak Village Food mart in Halswell, Alex Store on Clyde Rd in Bryndwr and Three Arrows Diary in Prebbleton.

Lincoln Dairy owner Shehan Saparamadu arrived minutes after the break-in to find a stolen car in his shop with its engine still running.

The offenders had fled in what is believed to have been another stolen car moments earlier.

"I drove the car out of the shop and parked it about 100 metres down the road," Saparamadu said.

The ram-raid was heartbreaking, he said, as he and his wife Shamina had worked hard to build up the business.

The couple are well known and liked in Lincoln. Locals were also on hand soon after the ram raid to offer support.

It is the second ram raid in the Canterbury town in the past few months.

The Lincoln Convenience Store nearby was targeted in May when a stolen car was driven through the front window.

A dairy in Prebbleton 6km away was also hit that month.