Michael Hill Jeweller Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel
Shops at a busy Hamilton mall were briefly put into lockdown after midday, as a group of masked robbers smashed cabinets at another Michael Hill store.
Shoppers at the Base in Te Rapa fled in panic as masked robbers dressed in black, jumped onto counters, breaking glass and snatching jewellery at about 11.30am today.
One shop worker described it as a frightening ordeal.
"We were in the store and then we heard some loud screaming and some smashing. I talked to another store near to us, they told us they had a big knife, so they were just smashing it and after that people just started running."
Acting Inspector Michael Henwood said police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or had video footage.
"Police are following strong lines of enquiry including viewing CCTV footage to establish the damage caused and what was taken.
"The community can be assured our staff are working hard to identify the offenders and hold them to account.
"We acknowledge this type of offending causes concern and harm in our community and it will not be tolerated."
Michael Hill jewellery stores in Pukekohe, Takapuna and Queen Street have also been targeted in recent months.
The incident at the shopping centre follows an earlier break-in at another retail complex on Hukanui Road in Hamilton this morning, where a security guard was injured in a "nasty" attack.
Police said the robbers took numerous items from multiple shops in the complex before attacking the guard, who was in a parked car.
He has been taken to hospital with facial injuries.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke said it was a "nasty, gratuitous attack" on the security guard, who had not approached or challenged the group.
The police are asking the public for help in identifying the offenders who are travelling in a gold 2005 Nissan Tiida.