Six arrested after Rotorua robbery and ram raid targeting vapes and cigarettes

Police have made six arrests. Photo / File

Police have arrested six people after a Labour Weekend ram raid, and a robbery in which a shopkeeper was struck with a hammer.

The offenders in both attacks targeted cigarettes and vapes.

Detective Sergeant Leonie Smith, from the Tactical Crime Unit in Rotorua, said five people entered a Ranolf St shop carrying several weapons, including a knife, baton and small hammer, about 3pm on Sunday.

The shopkeeper suffered minor injuries from the hammer but was able to activate the fog cannon, Smith said.

“The offenders fled the scene in a stolen vehicle taking a large number of cigarettes with them.”

The dumped vehicle was found nearby.

In the second incident, four people ram-raided a shop on Lynmore Ave early on Monday using two stolen vehicles.

They used one to smash into the shop, where they took vapes before fleeing in the second vehicle, Smith said.

The vehicle used to smash into the shop was left at the scene.

She said police conducted two search warrants.

Smith said a total of six people were facing charges after the two attacks.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.