A string of Eastern Bay businesses have been the target of burglaries, in the past several days.
Police are continuing their investigation into the Jewelz Whakatāne smash and grab, which Senior Sergeant Cam Mackinnon described as a “brazen, targeted event.”
Mackinnon said the offender ran from the store and down Boon Street before fleeing in a vehicle, with “further enquiries underway” to find the vehicle.
The Magnus Lennie Mitsubishi dealership in Ōpōtiki was targeted over the weekend, with the car dealership as well as six vehicles were broken into, but Police said nothing appeared to have been taken from the car dealership.
Whakatane clothing store him dot her is picking up the pieces, after intruders broke into the store on The Strand, early Monday morning.
Mackinnon said offenders smashed the front window and stole a raft of items, before fleeing in a getaway vehicle.
The break-in left glass all over the carpet and onto some products that can now no longer be sold.
Store owner Kate Clark was heartbroken about the break-in saying it was her happy place and felt emotionally exhausted.
But Clark said the support from Glassman and Locksmiths and the community was incredible.
The store was closed Monday and Tuesday while a new front window was installed and the carpet commercially cleaned.
Police forensically examined the scene and began an investigation into the break-in.
A vehicle was found in Otakiri early Tuesday morning, with the driver inside the vehicle.
Mackinnon said they recovered a raft of items, that Police believe, had been stolen from himdother, with further enquiries underway into who else was behind the break-in.