Businesses are fearful after offenders returned to mock them with the items they stole following a horrific attack on Palmerston North stores that saw a young staff member beaten by a large group of teenagers.
On Tuesday night around 30 teenagers rampaged through businesses in the Downtown Shopping Centre.
Shopowners told Newshub the teens started stealing and smashing glass food containers and cases, throwing them at staff and kicking them - only to return the next day.
A shocking video sent to Newshub that is believed to be filmed by the offenders and is circulating on social media shows a young worker being assaulted while the offenders cheer each other on.
One of the offenders can be heard yelling "get her" and pointing to a young worker.
An offender standing on a counter starts to kick the staff member, while other offenders encourage the attacks, chanting "get her".
The staff member grabs the offender's leg and pulls her off the counter before another offender joins in on the assault and the two start punching the staff member several times.
A security guard pulls one of the offenders off the staff member, but another offender joins in punching the girl several times until a worker, who Newshub understands was her father, comes to her rescue.
The father manages to push his way through while an offender tries to hold him back and grab one of the assailants by the arm to stop her attacks.
He then shields his daughter who hides behind him, clearly distressed.
The group of assailants then start to make their way out of the store.
Another video from the incident shows the group yelling abuse and smashing glasses on the floor.
The group appears to destroy everything in sight including throwing chairs and breaking a barrel that appears to be full of coffee beans, before exiting the shopping centre.
A police spokesperson said the police were called to the incident following several reports of shops being damaged.
However, when police arrived they said a number of teens had escaped and they were not able to locate them.
A shop owner told Newshub it took the police around 20 minutes to arrive, despite the shopping complex only being a two-minute walk from the police station.
The police said two girls were arrested with one being charged with assault, trespassing and shoplifting.
The other was taken into custody and has since been referred to Youth Aid and police said they will be making further enquiries to identify the rest involved.
A shop owner at the complex told Newshub the offenders returned the next morning wearing the uniform and clothes they stole from the people they attacked, mocking the staff with the keys they stole from the stores.
Police confirmed that the youths who returned briefly to the area on Wednesday were dealt with by police and the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
The shop owner said he has witnessed the youths partaking in robberies and attacks on many occasions.
The man told Newshub the youth offenders will take photos of people they plan to attack and then will often return to abuse them.
He said the gang ranges from smaller groups to over 50 people and claimed they sometimes carry BB guns and knives with them.
"The business owners [are] hiding in complete fear while their businesses lose money."
Police would not comment on whether the offenders were known to police.
Sweet Dreams, a bakery that was heavily damaged in the incident, posted on Facebook that the attack started after their shop was robbed earlier on Tuesday.
They said the thieves returned with the large group that night and physically assaulted their children.
"The damage done was huge and sadly we are beyond horrified."
Another business that was hit in the incident has been forced to close its shop early until further notice to protect its staff.
"We can not tolerate this," Nourish Cafe & Deli posted on Facebook.
"Because of this and the need to keep my staff safe, Nourish Cafe and Deli will be closing at 4pm every day until further notice."
Newshub has contacted the shopping complex's landlord for further comment.
