Police suspect "multiple" people were involved in a ram raid overnight at a liquor store in Brooklyn, Wellington.
The front of The Cellar Room bottle shop in Brooklyn, Wellington, was smashed in. Photo: RNZ / Rosie Gordon
The bottle store on Cleveland Street was hit by a car just before 3.30am on Wednesday.
The glass front doors and windows of the store were completely taken out.
Multiple people were suspected of entering the store and taking property before fleeing in the vehicle, police said.
A vehicle was used to smash the front of The Cellar Room in Brooklyn, Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter
Lucy Roberts, who has run the store for 20 years, was visibly upset and said she was "absolutely gutted".
"You work so hard," she said. "They've come in and they've broken everything, and taken all the gin."
It was their second ram raid in five years.
"That's just how it is ... there's some mean people out there ... and they picked us didn't they."
Roberts was adamant she would fix up the store. "You gotta keep going," she said.
A local woman, who did not want to be named, witnessed the ram raid and has been left shocked.
"I just heard a large smash and glass breaking and I felt gutted.
"There was nothing I could do because they were reversing in and drove out. It all happened so quickly."
The woman did not get a glimpse of how many people were in the vehicle and did not know its make or model but she said the incident was upsetting for the community.
"This is our home. People live here too as well as work here. We're a really close community," the witness said.
Other Brooklyn locals, walking past the scene today, also expressed their shock to RNZ.
"It's quite suburban and family-based so it's kind of jarring as well. You're just walking to the bus stop and you see that," one resident said.
Cellar Room owner Derek Bealing was busy on the phone today desperately trying to find tradies who could repair his broken store.
Derek Bealing was left trying to find tradies at short notice. Photo: RNZ / Rosie Gordon
The owners of neighbouring business offered their help including the owner of the local Burger Wisconsin, Alex Foster.
"Just really upset for Derek. Saw the post on the local community page earlier this morning and it's very upsetting. It's a hard thing to go through as a business owner," he said.
Police appealed for anyone with information to contact the 105 number.