A former senior police investigator says it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed in the latest crime wave.
Police are still searching for at least five offenders involved in a jewellery heist on Auckland's Queen Street on Saturday.
And it didn't take long before further aggravated robberies took place across the city.
A witness video shows a brazen burglary in broad daylight. Bystanders tried to intervene but the getaway car sped off, narrowly missing shoppers watching in shock.
Ella Grice works a few stores down and witnessed the entire ordeal. She said one offender who was only a child was left behind - thanks to the help of the public.
"He started kicking and screaming and swearing and there were two people sitting on him," she said. "He was around 10-12 years old."
An off-duty police officer also helped save two stolen bags but was hit in the head with what Newshub understands was a hammer and was sent to hospital with moderate injuries.
"It's more likely these offenders will seriously hurt or kill," warned Veritas Investigations director Richard Middleton.
Just hours later thieves used weapons to break into the Four Square in Saint Heliers - which only opened three weeks ago. They were quickly scared off by a fog cannon and left empty-handed.
The Saint Heliers Business Association said it's the fourth break-in this week alone.
"I'm past angry, I'm just sad now. I'm very sad for us, and sad for our community," said Saint Heliers Business Association chair Peter Jones.
Jones says the recent spate of crime has moved away from ram raids.
"They're now just using straight picks and hammers to break windows. Now that you can't stop, which is very disappointing," he said.
"It's making both our customers and our business owners feel very unsafe and we've got to change that."
Richard Middleton spent 33 years in the police force and worked as the national tactical coordinator focusing on preventing crime.
He said lockdown has contributed to the recent spike in youth crime.
"We've got a lot of youth out there that are incredibly bored. They've got nothing to lose, consequences mean nothing to them," he told Newshub.
"A big part of this is notoriety and bragging rights amongst their mates."
Middleton said it will take more than just the Police to help end this crime wave.
"They are repeat offenders. Taking them through the youth court is not going to work sadly. It's about changing their behaviours and the only way you can do that is wrap-around services and getting the communities involved," he said.
"Police alone can't do it, and never could. The communities must take some responsibility to put peer pressure on their families and the youth doing it. It needs to be applied through the churches and the local community groups."
To help prevent incidents like the Queen Street robbery on what should have been just another Saturday spent shopping in the city.
