A repair crew's truck outside Gun City on Cranford Street, Christchurch on Friday following an early morning ram raid. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
The Gun City store in Christchurch has been ram raided.
About 3.20am a stolen green-coloured Mazda Demio was used to break through the roller door at Gun City, on Cranford Street, Redwood.
Four people left in a stolen black Subaru Forester, travelling south on Cranford Street, police said.
Police were working to confirm what was stolen.
"We understand the concern around events involving firearms," Detective Senior Sergeant Wells said.
"Police are treating this seriously and are pursuing a number of leads."
E-Mega store manager Jeremy Joseph said cameras in front of his shop, beside Gun City, were down at the time of the ram-raid.
He was concerned that people might come into the shop with guns. "We worry about our staff," he said.
Malcolm Bell, owner of nearby Complete Angler and the Complete Outdoors, said his shop was also damaged.
"We're just part of an epidemic which is occurring throughout our country and unfortunately we're just victims.
"When you have cars driving into windows which have got roller doors over them unfortunately if someone's determined enough it's surprising how much damage can be done."
About 5.20am a sport shop on Marshland Road was also burgled, with mallets used to gain entry.
Three people left in a small black car, possibly a Suzuki Swift, police said.
Police did not yet know if the events were linked and were looking at CCTV as part of their investigation.