A small, family-owned power tool business in Auckland suffered more than $40,000 worth of damage in a ram raid, its owner says.
The front door of the shop lying on the ground after the raid. Photo: Supplied / Kieran Croxton
The Stihl Shop on New North Road, Mt Albert, was raided about 5am on Wednesday.
Owner Leon Law said thieves stole 10 chainsaws and at least one concrete cutter.
He was still going through the stock to see what was else was missing, but it was likely up to $15,000 worth of items had been taken and there was extensive damage to the shop, Law said.
"The whole scenario will probably cost between $30,000 to $40,000 to repair."
Images from the scene showed a twisted front door lying on the ground with the glass shattered.
Damage at the Stihl Shop in Mt Albert. Photo: Supplied / Kieran Croxton
"I got a quote, literally a couple days ago, for an internal security grill which was about $20,000, so that's another expense on top of the repairs," Law said.
"We're not making millions, we're not a big corporate store or anything... we're only a small family owned business."
Emily Roughton had grand travel plans for her self contained van she named Tallulah.
However, the van was stolen outside her Kingsland home. Roughton believed Tallulah was used in the ram raid at the Stihl Shop on New North Road.
Roughton said she felt violated as she watched footage of what she believed was her beloved van smash through the front door of the chainsaw shop.
She said the van had been a dream project for her and her family.
"It was just a van but it meant a lot to me ... I don't want it back after seeing that (the footage."
There has been a spate of ram raids in Auckland targeting among others, dairies, service stations and bottle stores.
In the most recent, a stolen vehicle was used to break in to the BP service station on Chapel Road, Botany, on Tuesday but burglars fled when a fog cannon was activated.
A jewellery store in Onehunga is closing down after 20 years after being targeted by ram raiders. Jewellers on Queen owner Bharti Patel told First Up she felt unsafe after two robberies in as many months.
