Watch: Police hunt four young men seen smashing a police car windscreen

The moment a young man jumps to land on directly on a police car windscreen - smashing it. Image / NZ Police

Police are looking for four men caught on camera smashing the windscreen of a police car parked in downtown Auckland.

The group were snapped on CCTV camera footage in the early hours of Saturday, July 11, about 12.45am.

They are first spotted gathering together, before another camera shows two of the group walking up to a police patrol car parked outside a shop.

The first of the pair - dressed in a grey hooded jumper - is seen attempting to do a backflip onto the car's hood.

The moment a young man jumps to land on directly on a police car windscreen - smashing it. Image / NZ Police

The second runs up to the car before jumping onto the hood and then again before carrying out an almost wrestling-style move that sees him landing on his bum and back onto the windscreen.

Another CCTV camera directly above the car later shows the windscreen has been smashed in the middle.

A police officer speaking in the video described how disappointed they were to find the patrol car damaged.

"We are quite disappointed that one of our vehicles were damaged," he says.

"It does take one of the vehicles away operationally - which we do rely on to keep the community safe."

Do you know any of these men? Contact Police on 105. Image / NZ Police

The officer refers to those involved as just "males", but members of the public who commented on the video - which has been shared on the NZ Police Facebook page - were not so forgiving.

"Clowns. Lowlifes," one writes.

"I think we definitely need facial recognition cameras around our towns to identify idiots like these in the future," another says.

Another poster said: "Typical losers..."

Anyone who was in the Auckland CBD that night who may have information that can help police is urged to contact authorities immediately.

Can you help? Call police on 105 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111