Police are hunting three men after a crime spree in which molotov cocktails were hurled at a suburban Wellington police station and a stolen car was destroyed by fire.
The arson attacks come just two days after a Palmerston North police station was set alight, and a month after a Coromandel police station was torched.
Firefighters were called to the Karori community police station, on Karori Rd, after a fire was reported about 5am today, Fire Service central communications shift manager David Meikle said.
Two fire crews arrived to find the fire was out and minor damage had been done to the front of the building.
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Dunn of the Wellington CIB said the offenders had thrown rocks at the building, smashing windows, before throwing in four molotov cocktails.
"All burned out without causing any major damage," he said.
The arson came after police earlier found a burnt white Subaru on Highbury Cres, Kelburn, about 3.20am. The car had been stolen from suburban Miramar some time since Friday.
Police had earlier tried to stop it in suburban Melrose about 12.30am, and on Raroa Rd about half an hour later.
Mr Dunn said a second car, a red Subaru, was reported stolen from Glenmore St, Kelburn, before the Karori police station was attacked.
While police were dealing with that incident, a further call came in regarding a ram-raid at a liquor store in Brooklyn about 4.30am.
A third stolen car, also a red Subaru, was left at the scene, while the second stolen Subaru fled.
Witnesses then reported seeing the second stolen car at Storage King on Hutt Road, where a burglary occurred, and again at Tile Warehouse on Kaiwharawhara Rd minutes later.
"The offenders smashed their way inside and stole a 42 inch television off the wall," Mr Dunn said.
The red Subaru, registration FRA21, was then seen driving dangerously in Khandallah.
"We are yet to locate this stolen vehicle or the three offenders described by witnesses and want to hear from anyone who knows where it may be now."
Police are also seeking sightings of the stolen white Subaru, registration CLW518, and the other red Subaru, registration CBJ534.
Witnesses said two of the offenders were European men in their 20s, of slim build, both wearing black hooded sweatshirts.
Mr Dunn said it was possible the overnight offending was linked to a burglary in the early hours of Monday this week, at Wellington Mowers and Chainsaws in Karori, where offenders smashed their way inside, stealing three Husqvarna trimmers and two Husqvarna chainsaws.
"We are keen to hear from anyone who may have been offered a brand new trimmer or chainsaw this week, which may lead us to the offenders responsible for these overnight incidents."
The crime spree comes two days after an arson attack on a police station in Palmerston North.
The Highbury community policing centre, on Highbury Ave, was set alight about 3am Monday, causing damage to two offices and smoke damage throughout the converted house.
Palmerston North area commander Inspector Pat Handcock said he believed accelerants were used but more work was needed to establish the exact cause of the fire.
That incident followed the torching of Coromandel town police station in the early hours of Good Friday. Three men have appeared in court in relation to the arson.
