A number of similarities between four robberies in the past month in Riccarton, Woolston, Linwood and Phillipstown include the offenders using hammers as weapons.
CCTV footage shows the offenders disguising themselves completely using clothing and stealing cash, cigarettes, alcohol and food.
The Star understands the robberies are part of an initiation to be part of the group.
Four arrests have been made so far in relation to one robbery at Buns Bakery in Phillipstown on August 23.
The alleged getaway driver is a 35-year-old woman, who is one of the four charged.
Police are currently following strong lines of inquiry into a fifth offender, believed to be 18. The woman has been charged with aggravated robbery, unlawfully stealing a $7000 Ford Courier utility and failing to stop for a patrol car.
Both were remanded in custody without plea.
One property has also been searched.
On August 12, four people entered the Riccarton Liquorland, one armed with a hammer, and stole cash, cigarettes and alcohol.
On August 17, three men wearing masks, two of whom were armed with hammers, entered the Night and Day on Ferry Rd, Woolston, at around 2.30am and stole cigarettes.
Later that day, at 7.45pm three men, one who armed with a hammer, entered the Woodham Road Liquor Store by smashing their way through a locked rear entry door. Staff were threatened.
Store owner Harjit Singh said he will no longer sell cigarettes following the robbery, the third for the store this year.
The store manager Arwinder Singh said the incident was “pretty awful” and his colleague and friend had been “shaken up” following the incident.”
Riccarton Liquorland and Night and Day did not wish to speak about the robbery when contacted by The Star yesterday.
