Whangārei’s Claphams Clock Museum has closed for five days during peak tourism season after an early morning burglary.
Police are investigating after a window was smashed to gain entry to the Quayside attraction around 3.30am today.
The group of people believed to be responsible stole several watches and fled in two vehicles, police said.
The vehicles were later found abandoned on William Jones Dr in Ōtangarei. They were towed away for forensic examination.
Police tape cordoned off the museum this morning. Behind the cordon, one of the glass front doors appeared smashed.
The Whangārei District Council’s general manager of community services, Victoria Harwood, said the museum was one of the most visited attractions at the Town Basin.
Visitors were arriving on tour buses on Monday morning who would have seen the damage.
“It’s not the welcome that we wanted to give them into our district.”
The council-owned and operated museum would remain shut until Saturday, March 8.
She said that would allow police investigations to take place as well as a stock-take, cleaning and repairs.
Although true costs could not be forecast, ultimately it was ratepayers who would cover the damage, she said.
The glass doors required repairing and glass cabinetry that was reportedly smashed during the burglary would need to be replaced.
Harwood said the alleged offenders made off with a number of jewellery watches and pounamu.
She said the event had saddened staff.
“They’re very passionate about the museum and about the work they do and about the tourism and looking after the people of our district.
“It’s extremely sad for the museum to have been targeted, and sad to be turning visitors away during peak season.”
She said Whangārei was a “beautiful” place to visit and encouraged tourists to continue visiting.
“We want people to come back when the museum is open,” she said.
The true cost of the damage is unknown but Harwood said it would be calculated over the week.
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.