Stewart Dawsons jewellery store at St Luke's Mall was targeted by up to eight masked robbers.
Video / Supplied
About eight masked robbers smashed windows and shelves with batons and threatened shoppers during a brazen daylight robbery in one of Auckland's most popular shopping malls.
Armed police and emergency services responded in significant numbers after the robbery at the Stewart Dawsons jewellery store in the Westfield St Lukes shoppingmall.
Frightened shoppers ran for cover and others were threatened by the men, whose faces were all covered, said witnesses.
The group of offenders entered the jewellery store on the upper level of the mall about 5pm on Tuesday, smashing cabinets and snatching expensive jewellery before fleeing.
A worker at the nearby Max fashion store said she heard glass shattering and a woman screaming, and rushed outside to see what was happening.
She said she saw about eight men with covered faces smashing everything and anything with massive batons.
Five police officers stand outside the store, talking to clearly shaken witnesses of the attack, some are in need of comfort by the officers. Photo / Rachel Maher
The worker said she quickly rolled down the shutters on the Max store, rushed customers into the back room, and locked the door.
She said she assumed the batons were guns at first.
A Herald reporter at the scene said police officers were seen outside the jewellery store after the robbery, talking to clearly shaken witnesses, some of whom were in need of comfort.
A group entered the Stewart Dawson's jewellery store inside Auckand's Westfield St Lukes at about 5pm, smashed cabinets and took items before fleeing. Police are investigating. Photo / Supplied
Armed police were also at the mall after initial fears there were firearms involved.
Several ambulances responded to the incident but there were no reported injuries. No arrests had been made yet, police said.
A vehicle believed to have been involved was found on Taylors Rd, a block away from the mall.
A policeman on the scene told the Herald that the car was used by the fleeing offenders and had been stolen earlier.
Police recovered a vehicle on Taylor's Rd in Mount Albert. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Blood was seen splattered down the side of the car and some jewellery was lying beside the vehicle.
Nearby workers at Muffin Break had also fled after hearing glass shattering and screaming from inside the jewellery store.
They believed this was the third time the shop had been targeted.
A worker from the Coffee Club store said she saw a couple of people run away, wearing all black with either hats or hoods.
Another nearby worker said she thought the men had guns due to the consistency of the smashing sound.
