Valuable watches are among the items targeted by thieves who broke into and ransacked three east Auckland businesses.
The break-ins are believed to have been carried out in Howick Village between Monday night and Tuesday morning and police are working to identify those responsible.
Howick Village Association (HVA) manager Jane Newbury says burglaries were reported at Paper Plus on Picton Street as well as Honeybun Jewellers and a vape store in Moore Street.
“Obviously they’re very upset and we’re upset for them,” Newbury says of the impacted businesses.
HVA market manager Sarah Laing spoke to Honeybun Jewellers staff on Tuesday morning and says the thieves appeared to target the store’s valuable watches.
“They completely cleaned out two cabinets. It all happened very quickly.
“The ladies [who work at the shop] couldn’t secure the building [after the break-in] so they basically spent the night there, which also puts them at risk because if somebody came back it’s a pretty dangerous position to be in.”
Newbury says tagging was discovered overnight on the wall of the alleyway between Picton Street and the Central Terrace car park.
One of the tags says “FTP”, which is a common acronym used in graffiti and stands for “F*** the Police”.
The tagging was reported and is being removed.
Newbury says there’s been a rise in thefts and break-ins around Howick village in the past two to three months.
She points to the recent burglary of a Central Terrace barbershop and a Cook Street hairdresser as other examples.
“We’ve also had cars in Uxbridge Road broken into and completely cleaned out and a work van that lost all its tools.
“Stores in Wellington Street had all their copper piping removed [by thieves] a couple of weeks ago.”
Newbury and Laing say it’s hard to know if the recent thefts happened because the Howick police station has closed and its community officers are working from Flat Bush until a new local base is opened.
Newbury says it would be a shame if people began to think Howick Village was becoming less safe.
“It would affect our businesses and it would affect people coming into the area.
“It’s extremely important to have the Howick police station opened and staffed.
“Just to have them here, whether it’s coincidental and they know the police have gone, I don’t know.
“The sooner we get them [Howick police] back the better.”
Counties Manukau East Police area prevention manager, Inspector Colin Higson, says an investigation is under way into the three reported burglaries at Howick businesses.
“Two of the burglaries occurred at stores in Moore Street and police will be making enquiries to ascertain when they occurred.
“Police also attended the business on Picton Street after 1.30am [on Tuesday] following a report of a burglary.
“While at the scene police have seen graffiti in a nearby alleyway and will be making enquiries into that.”
Higson says officers will speak to business owners to confirm what has been stolen from each premises.
“Forensic examinations are due to be undertaken today [Tuesday] and police will also be making other enquiries into the burglaries.
“Anyone with information that may assist our enquiries is asked to contact police on 105 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
