A person has allegedly been assaulted by a group of youths at the Westfield Mall in Riccarton.

The incident took place just before 6PM on Sunday.

According to a witness who spoke to Chris Lynch Media, she and her daughter were walking from Pak’nSave to the movie theatres when a loud alarm started blaring.

She said staff from various shops started running and quickly shutting their doors. The witness continued, “We weren’t sure what was happening so we kept walking.”

As they walked past the food court near Whitcoulls, young teenagers reportedly started running back into the mall from the car park entrance by the food court.

One was wearing what looked like a bulletproof vest and a white mask pulled up over his face, and more came around the corner with security in pursuit.

The witness identified one of the girls with red hair as someone who had been causing trouble in the local Spreydon area by stealing cars.

She said “everyone was sort of just standing shocked at what was happening. I had my daughters with me and they were a bit shaken so we kept walking to get to the movies.

The offenders dropped heaps of jewellery and what looked like ring boxes as they ran past us.”

A police spokesperson confirmed that an incident took place, saying “police received a report of an assault at a commercial premises on Riccarton Road, Riccarton about 6pm.”

The spokesperson added that it appears a group of people assaulted one person and there are no reports of injuries.

Westfield Shopping Mall has been approached for comment on the incident.