Several telecommunications stores were broken into in the Tauranga CBD and Bayfair on Sunday night, with a number of phones stolen.

Bayfair Shopping Centre confirms the centre was broken into while closed overnight.

'The offenders gained entry through force and targeted three specific retailers, forcing entry into Vodafone and Spark before leaving the centre four minutes later,” says Bayfair Shopping Centre manager Steve Ellingford.

'Our security team and the police were alerted as soon as the alarm was triggered.

'We are working with the affected retailers to determine the level of damage and theft, and with the police to ensure they have everything they require to conduct a thorough investigation, including providing CCTV footage.”

He says the centre remains open.

A Spark spokesperson says the Bayfair store is still open for business, while a spokesperson for Vodafone says their retail stores in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui would hopefully be re-opened later on Monday.

A 2degrees spokesperson confirms their Devonport Road store was broken into during the early hours of the morning with a number of handsets taken, as well as an attempted break in at the Bayfair store.

All three companies emphasised that the stolen handsets would be blocked on all New Zealand networks.

'We advise consumers against purchasing handsets that are being sold outside of usual retail outlets, as these handsets will stop working on any New Zealand network.”