Stolen 4WD vehicles are being used by a criminal group in ram-raids targeting cash machines at service stations and shopping centres in Auckland.
Stolen vehicles are being used by the thieves to smash through walls to get to the cash machines.
Acting Detective Inspector Pete Jones said police are investigating whether the incidents over the last six months are linked, but he would not say how many raids have been reported or where they have occurred.
"There has been considerable damage done, but not a great deal of monetary value taken," he told the New Zealand Herald.
Two people have been arrested in relation to the ram-raids, including one who was arrested on Friday morning after an ATM was targeted in Manurewa.
Det Insp Jones said police were called to SaveMart on Browns Rd just after 2am after members of the public heard a loud bang and saw a 4WD ramming into the front of the building.
The culprits failed to access the ATM. When police arrived they attempted to escape, but not before an unmarked patrol vehicle was rammed.
The grey 4WD that was used to ram the front of the SaveMart building was pursued by police. The 39-year-old male driver was arrested after he tried to flee on foot.
Det Insp Jones said the man was charged with four counts of burglary and three of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Police are looking for at least three more suspects in relation to Friday morning's incident.
The Counties Manukau police major crime team is investigating a series of ram-raids in the area and the incident on Friday is being looked in to to determine whether it is linked to previous raids.
NZN