Christchurch mall ramraiders smash through glass doors after bollards dropped for cleaners

Thursday, 25 June 2026

Christchurch mall ramraiders smashed through its glass doors, drove into the building then grabbed clothing and shoes from shops.

They were able to drive into the doors after cleaning staff lowered a bollard, a tradesperson said.

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“Several” ramraiders stole branded clothes and shoes from Westfield Riccarton after crashing a vehicle through the glass doors on Rotherham St just before 5am on Thursday, a police spokesperson said.

Senior Sergeant Kerry Joyce said: “Initial inquiries have determined a number of items were taken and the alleged offenders fled the scene in the same vehicle.”

The thieves stole clothes and shoes from a kiosk in the mall walkway and broke into Hype DC, a store selling branded clothes and shoes.

They fled in the same vehicle, a police spokesperson said. Security guards called police.

Officers saw a vehicle driving dangerously about 5.10am in Addington and tried to pursue it, but it got away, a police spokesperson said.

About 10 minutes later, officers saw a vehicle that appeared to be connected to the burglary in Somerfield, but did not pursue.

A tradesperson at the mall on Thursday morning said the vehicle got past the bollards at the front of the mall’s entrance after they were lowered for cleaning staff.

The tradie told The Press the vehicle drove through the mall, leaving the cleaners shaken.

There was a hole in the glass at Rodd & Gunn, and staff appeared to be fixing issues at Sunglass Style.

The mall is open for business as tradespeople fix the damage.

The ram-raid follows a midnight ram-raid at the Chemist Warehouse at the mall earlier this year.

Burglars used a stolen vehicle to crash through the front door of the Chemist Warehouse at about 12.40am on March 30.

They stole items and fleeing in a second vehicle, police said at the time.

Scentre Group, the owner or Westfield Riccarton, declined to comment.