Two of the four ram-raids in Hamilton overnight have been captured on CCTV cameras, including one incident where the car rolled away from the offender.
TechStore on Horsham Downs Road was targeted at 2:11am on Tuesday. Footage shows the vehicle smashing through the store's automatic doors before one offender walked into the store.
A police spokesperson said in a statement the offenders stole alcohol before fleeing in the same vehicle.
A separate ram-raid at Holland Superette on Holland Street unfolded at about 5:15am. The shop's security cameras were rolling as the car reversed in front of the store, smashing into its doors three times.
On the third attempt, the offender jumped out of the car while the back of the car was pressed up against the store's door.
But the car used in the ram-raid began to roll away as they got out. When they realised the car had started to roll away while they weren't inside, they swiftly chased it and jumped back into the driver's seat.
Footage shows a second offender attempting to pry open the munted doors with their bare hands. When that failed they ran on foot, leaving the driver of the car in a panic. The driver quickly realised and ran away too, leaving the car at the scene.
"The vehicle has been secured by police and will be forensically examined," the police spokesperson said.
Another ram-raid took place at about 2:40am on Grey Street but the thieves didn't manage to break into the shop.
"The vehicle was left running which caused it to catch on fire. The offenders fled in a different vehicle," the spokesperson said.
And at 5am another ram-raid occurred at a Cambridge Road service station.
"The offenders stole a number of items before decamping in the vehicle."
