A violent Auckland jewellery store robbery sees hammer and knife-wielding thieves injure owner

A man armed himself with a sword and bravely confronted a gang of thieves after his father was struck with a hammer inside their family-run jewellery store.

A man has been forced to arm himself with a sword against a gang of thieves who set upon his father with hammers and knives.

Horrifying footage has emerged from Auckland showing the moment a jewellery store is violently raided by hammer and knife-wielding robbers.

In CCTV from Sunday evening, young children are seen cowering and screaming while a store owner is bludgeoned over the head multiple times at Pooja Jewellers in the suburb of Papatoetoe.

A violent robbery at Pooja Jewellers in Auckland saw hammer and knife-wielding thieves attack store owner Gurdeep Singh Luther, leaving him seriously injured. Picture: Reddit

CCTV footage showed young children screaming and hiding as the robbers bludgeoned Gurdeep and eventually stole several trays of jewellery. Picture: Reddit

Two men are seen attempting to block the thieves from entering the store as they wave knives and other weapons.

The intruders eventually break through, striking one man with a hammer multiple times as women and children scream and seek cover in the small storefront.

The man is seen writhing in pain on the ground, clutching his head, as another man arms himself with a sword.

Gurdeep’s son armed himself with a sword to defend his father, causing the thieves to retreat, but his mother prevented him from attacking them. Picture: Reddit

It’s only then the thieves appear to retreat, but not before swiping several trays of jewellery.

The victim, identified as 50-year-old store owner Gurdeep Singh Luther, was taken to hospital in a serious condition, where he is still recovering.

The incident has intensified concerns over rising crime rates in New Zealand, prompting new government initiatives to combat criminal activity. Picture: Reddit

Daljit Singh from the Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand spoke to The Indian Weekender about the horrific attack.

“Three to four robbers armed with hammers and sharp tools stormed the jewellery shop in an attempt to steal jewellery boxes,” he said.

He claimed Gurdeep was struck twice on the head with a hammer before being attacked with a knife – though the latter was not immediately clear in CCTV.

Daljit revealed the sword-wielding store worker was indeed Gurdeep’s son rushing to his aid.

“(He grabbed a) swordlike weapon from the back of the store, but his mother restrained him from attacking the robbers,” he explained, adding the offenders made off with three trays of jewellery and caused significant damage to the storefront.

New Zealand police said they were looking into the robbery but had made no arrests.

“The Eagle helicopter responded to the area, however the offenders left in a vehicle prior to arrival and were not located,” Inspector Keki Wilson said in a statement.

“Police are working to piece together exactly what occurred; we are speaking with a number of witnesses and will conduct a scene examination.”

Daljit added Gurdeep was recovering in hospital after being treated for injuries, including a stab wound.

“The doctors have sewn up the knife wound and are waiting for scans to assess his condition,” he said.

‘Kiwis are sick of it’

The attack has reverberated through the Auckland suburb, where Gurdeep chairs the local business association.

The incident also occurred amid a national crackdown on crime.

New initiatives include updated designations for hardcore and repeat youth offenders, a pilot military-style boot camp program, and additional police to patrol central business districts nationwide.

NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has recently imposed a crackdown on the nation’s soaring crime issues. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Prime Minister Chris Luxon recently expressed that New Zealanders were “fed up” with the rising crime rates and that many did not feel safe in their homes.

“Nobody should have to fear walking down Queen St here in Auckland,” he said.

“Nobody should have to fear going to work, worrying whether their store is going to be robbed or ramraided.

“I’m sick of it, Kiwis are sick of it, and it’s unacceptable.”