Police are investigating two ram raids in Tauranga overnight reportedly involving the same vehicle.

A spokeswoman said police received a report of a burglary on Otumoetai Rd, between Grange Rd and Sherwood St, around 1.50am.

“A vehicle was used to gain entry to a store. The offenders have taken an unknown amount of items from the premises before fleeing the area in the vehicle,” she said.

An employee of On Call Repairs was called to the scene and left at 8:50am.

He said there is a lot of damage and the whole front of the store will need to be rebuilt.

“There was definitely a ram raid because the skid marks are there” he had just assessed the job and said “the walls are broken” “the frames are broken” “the door is messed up” “it’s quite bad” “the whole front of the shop is quite bad”.

Structural damage to the inside of the Viking Dairy as a result of the ram raid style burglary. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

Less than an hour before Viking Dairy was targeted, a vehicle had been used to enter BP Connect Te Puna on State Highway 2, Minden, about 1.25am, the police spokeswoman said.

She said it was unknown what was taken.

The vehicle was later found abandoned on Pitau Rd.

“Initial inquiries suggest the same vehicle was used in the two incidents,” the spokeswoman said.

A BP spokesperson said none of their team were at the site at the time of the incident.

Damage at BP Connect Te Puna following a ram raid on Tuesday morning. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

“At BP, the safety of our customers and team members is our first priority.

“We work closely with the police and have CCTV technology at all our bp Connect sites.”

The spokesperson said the store had reopened and the business was helping police with their investigation.