By 1News Reporters
10:58am

Police are investigating two aggravated robberies at separate jewellery
stores in Auckland which they say may be linked.


Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Paea said the first aggravated robbery occurred at a Papatoetoe jewellery store just after 4pm Sunday.


"A group arrived outside the Great South Rd store and began forcing their way inside the store."

He said staff working at the time saw what was happening and moved themselves to safety.


"On getting inside the store, the offenders smashed glass cabinets inside the store and stole jewellery.

"The men fled in the same vehicle they had arrived in. This was later found abandoned nearby," he said.


In the second robbery, Paea said a group of offenders arrived at the Manawa
Bay shopping centre near Auckland Airport shortly before 7pm.


The group ran inside a jewellery store in the complex, smashing cabinets and taking jewellery.


They all fled in the stolen vehicle they arrived in, which was abandoned
nearby on Richard Pearse Dr, with the offenders splitting into two vehicles.


He said it was fortunate that no staff working suffered any physical
injuries, but were "understandably shaken".


"At this stage we believe these two incidents may be linked," Paea said.


Inquiries were underway to identify the group, and police urged anyone with information about either aggravated robbery to get in touch online, through 105, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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