A 16-year-old has been arrested and charged after an aggravated robbery of the Michael Hill Jewellers at Bayfair in Tauranga on March 19.
Footage of the smash and grab provided to Newshub by SunLive showed the chaotic moment three alleged offenders unleashed in their violent raid of the jewellery store.
In the video, the three alleged thieves can be seen frantically dashing from cabinet to cabinet as they cause destruction through the store.
One person, whose sister heard glass being smashed, told SunLive her sister heard a woman yell out 'gun'.
"She and her partner and their baby ran outside. They saw three armed youths smashing cabinets," the person said.
Announcing the arrest on Friday, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam said Police "will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to offending and the harm it creates for businesses".
Det Snr Sgt Varnam said police want to assure members of the public that offenders will be held accountable.
"A 16-year-old local male is appearing before the Tauranga District Court tomorrow [Saturday]."
Police said enquiries into the robbery are ongoing and further arrests are likely to be made.
