Dargaville supermarket break-in: Burglars evade police and community patrol, force Woolies closure

Detailed summary

Burglars evaded police and a community patrol to break into a Northland supermarket with a crowbar overnight, forcing the store’s closure this morning. The break-in took place at…

Burglars evaded police and a community patrol to break into a Northland supermarket with a crowbar overnight, forcing the store’s closure this morning.

The break-in took place at the Victoria St Woolworths store in Dargaville about 5.30am, police told the Herald.

Photos showed the glass entry doors smashed, leading to local speculation there had been a ram-raid – but police said a vehicle was not used in the break-in.

“Reportedly two men used a crowbar to gain entry through the store’s front entrance,” a police spokesman said.

The supermarket was closed this morning but had since reopened, a Woolworths spokesperson confirmed.

Dargaville community patroller Anita Evans said her team had been keeping a close watch on the town overnight but missed the culprits.

“We patrolled the area several times last night, including driving around the Woolworths carpark area twice, and didn’t notice any suspicious activity,” Evans said.

“Our shift finished before 5am, when this incident is understood to have taken place.”

Her team had spotted non-functioning streetlights next to the supermarket’s rear entrance, she said.

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