Early Tuesday morning, a group of thieves used a car to smash through the doors and security grill of Makaraka Veges, a store located just outside Gisborne. The perpetrators made off with cigarettes, chocolate, and drinks, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Store owner Krunal Shah revealed that security footage captured six masked individuals attempting to force their way into the store on Main Rd at around 4 a.m. “They initially tried to break in from one side using a car but were unsuccessful,” Shah said. After this failed attempt, the group managed to breach the metal security grill at the front of the store.
Once inside, the thieves targeted the cigarette cabinet, which had become detached from the wall. “They didn’t even need to break the lock; they accessed it from the back and side,” Shah explained.
By 9 a.m., forensic teams were still working at the scene, assessing the damage and determining the extent of the theft. Shah noticed blood on the floor and suspected that one of the offenders might have been injured during the break-in.
Local residents alerted the police, who are now investigating the incident. Shah, who has managed the store for five years—two of those as the owner—expressed his shock and dismay. “This is the first time something like this has happened in Makaraka,” he said.
Despite the damage, Shah hopes to reopen the store within the next couple of days. “There’s a lot of glass and debris to clear, but we’re working to get everything organised,” he added. Reflecting on the incident, Shah admitted he was concerned about the store’s recovery after years of serving the local community. “We don’t know what’s going to happen next,” he said.
Police inquiries are ongoing.
ISSUE
.jpg)
