Six thieves, one armed with a machete, stole jewels and gold from a south Auckland jewellery store in 45 seconds of violent pillaging captured on security camera last Thursday.
Footage from the brazen Anzac Day heist provided to 1News shows the group of robbers storming into the Manurewa store with weapons just before closing time.
Four staff members can be seen running for cover in the back, while five other customers scramble out of the way under or over display cases.
A couple can be seen hugging each other as one of the offenders smashes a glass cabinet right next to them, then managing to slip past the robbers and escape out the front door.
The group smash every cabinet in the store with their weapons and empty trays of jewellery into their bags.
A smoke cannon activates around 16 seconds into the heist, prompting the robbers to make their getaway.
Police said they were investigating a reported aggravated robbery at an address on Great South Rd around 5.35pm on Thursday.
“Inquiries into the circumstances of the incident remain ongoing, which include determining what was taken and who is responsible,” a spokesperson said.
Auckland police recently launched Operation Dusk aimed at investigating recent offending at jewellery stores.
Five armed robbers stormed a Michael Hill Jeweller at a West Auckland mall yesterday afternoon, smashing cabinets with hammers.
A Newmarket store was allegedly robbed on April 14 after previously being ram-raided by a group of hooded thieves on April 12.
On April 14, a store in St Lukes was also robbed, and on April 18, dramatic footage showed a group of alleged armed thieves fleeing from Dress Smart in Onehunga.