Multiple Christchurch businesses have been targeted in a series of ram raid burglaries over several days this week, with police investigating whether the incidents are connected.
An Addington clothing store was broken into on Tuesday morning, followed by Westfield Riccarton on Thursday. Four Halswell businesses on Kennedy's Bush Rd and Halswell Road were struck early Friday morning: Halswell Cafe, Sushi Fusion, Halswell Noodle Delights, and Halswell Seafood Centre.
At Earth Sea Sky in Addington, two people in black hoodies smashed a window and entered at 3:40am Tuesday, stealing $18,000 worth of clothing within 10 seconds. On Thursday around 5am, offenders drove a vehicle through Westfield Riccarton, stole items, and left in the same vehicle.
Anson Chen, who owns Halswell Seafood Centre and Halswell Noodle Delights, said the Friday timing forced him to delay opening on the busiest day of the week. At his businesses, a car smashed the doors before a single person entered and took one nearly empty cash drawer.
Sushi Fusion owner Vicky Huang said a computer monitor used for the till was broken in the raid on her business. "Brain is so tired now," she said.
Christchurch police metro area response manager Inspector Paul Reeves said police were investigating whether the incidents were connected and following multiple lines of inquiry to identify the offenders. No arrests had been made by Friday afternoon.