The Times Newspapers’ office in Howick has been targeted in a disturbing act of vandalism overnight.
A rock was thrown through its front window, leaving shards of broken glass all over desks, chairs, and on the floor.
The damage was discovered when a staff member arrived at the office in Central Terrace at about 7.40am.
She notified Times Media managing director Reay Neben, who told her to not touch the rock and then reported the incident to police and contacted Howick Glass to have the broken window repaired.
Staff from Howick Glass placed tape on the damaged window pane to stop it from breaking further.
An officer from Howick Police visited the Times’ office at about 11am to take photos of the rock and inspect the damage.
The Howick Village Association (HVA) has also been informed.
It’s believed the rock, which appeared to have white paint on it, was brought to the scene by whoever threw it through the window, as there are no rocks of its kind in the immediate area.
Neben says she was on the phone with police when she arrived in Central Terrace this morning.
“I didn’t know if it was a hole lower down or if anybody had entered the office.
“So when I saw it I said to the police it’s just a rock, it’s wilful damage, but for what reason I do not know.
“I came in and left the rock sitting where it was. Then I finished making the police report and started to clean up.
“There was glass everywhere and it just shattered from the force of the rock coming in, it was so strong. But why pick us?”
Neben says chairs in the office’s reception area were covered in a fine film of broken glass.
She says the police were concerned such incidents of vandalism may be happening in the wider community.
“We checked with the HVA and so did the police. We’re waiting to hear if security cameras show anything.
“The police haven’t said we were targeted because of who we are, but I feel that.”
Nothing similar has ever happened in the company’s history at any of its previous locations in east Auckland.
Anyone who saw suspicious behaviour near the Times Newspapers’ office in Central Terrace, Howick, overnight on May 17, or who has information on the act of vandalism, can phone Howick Police on 105.
