Police are investigating a series of ram raids on commercial premises across Christchurch in the early hours of this morning.
A police spokesperson said officers were alerted to multiple incidents between 4am and 5.30am at businesses in Halswell, Burwood, Waltham, Ilam, Addington and Riccarton.
Information provided to chrislynchmedia.com shows the spree began at 4am at Thirsty Liquor in Burwood, where youths in two stolen cars carried out a ram raid.
At 4.30am, a vape and liquor store on the corner of Opawa Road and Wilsons Road was targeted by the same two stolen vehicles.
At 4.45am, BP Oaklands on Halswell Road was ram raided.
Five minutes later, a store on Lincoln Road in Addington was hit. Bottle O in Halswell was targeted at 4.55am.
At 5am, New World Woolston on St Johns Street was broken into, followed by BP Westburn on Waimairi Road at 5.11am.
The police spokesperson said the youth offenders used several vehicles to force their way into the properties, and items have been taken from several locations.
The offenders fled in the stolen vehicles and drove in a dangerous manner, knowing police would not pursue them because of the risk to the public, the spokesperson said.
Halswell BP entrance was damaged by a ram raid. The store is open by window payment only.
Police enquiries have been continuing to locate the vehicles used and identify those involved.
