Napier’s alleged perfume thieves apprehended

The entrance of burgled Life Pharmacy, still awaiting a replacement door eight days after an early-morning raid in the Napier CBD. Photo / Doug Laing.

Two teenagers have been apprehended in relation to one of two early-morning front-entrance burglaries of shops in Napier’s Emerson St shopping centre.

Both targeting perfumes and deodorant, the burglaries were at specialist store Elaines on Emerson about 1.20am, on Saturday, April 5 and at Life Pharmacy about 2.40am on April 7.

Offenders using an allegedly stolen car in one of the raids smashed through glass at the front entrances and grabbed product from display shelves, including popular brands D’Or and Versace.

Police said two youths were charged in relation to the second burglary.

Police continue inquiries concerning the offences, in which there was damage costing thousands of dollars more than the value of the stolen stock.

One of the sites is still awaiting replacement of a door expected to cost over $8000, while a sign at the part-boarded entrance assures customers they’re still open for business.

Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke’s Bay Today, and has 52 years of journalism experience, 42 of them in Hawke’s Bay, in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues, and personalities.