Road spikes catch alleged offenders in Christchurch mall ram raid

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Ram raiders have again struck at a Christchurch’s Westfield Riccarton mall.

This time, two young people were arrested after police road spikes deflated all four of their vehicle’s tyres.

Inspector Paul Reeves said police responded to a report of an incident on Rotherham St, Riccarton around 12.30am on Tuesday.

“It is alleged a vehicle was used to gain entry to a premises and damage a window before leaving the scene,” he said.

A member of the public reported the vehicle, which police subsequently found.

“Police successfully deployed road spikes and the vehicle continued for a short distance before being abandoned near the intersection of Waltham Road and Austin Street with all four tyres deflated,” Reeves said.

Two youths were taken into custody and face charges including aggravated burglary, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, burglary, failing to stop and dangerous driving.

Both are due to appear in the Christchurch Youth Court on Tuesday.

It comes a month after ramraiders smashed through the mall’s glass doors, drove into the building then grabbed clothing and shoes from shops.

Those offenders were able to drive into the Rotherham St doors after cleaning staff lowered a bollard just before 5am on June 25.