A locally owned Tauranga vape store is being repeatedly targeted for burglaries – and managers believe an underage vaping 'crisis” is to blame.

Jordan Pulley is the wholesale manager of the vape shop, located on Maungaui Road.

She says the store was broken into overnight, before they even had the chance to fix the damages from the last time it had happened.

According to Jordan, youths first broke into the shop by using an "electric hacksaw" on the door at about 2am.

She says CCTV footage has been sent to police.

"We firmly believe that these break-ins are a result of the concerning youth vaping epidemic."

"EasyPuff takes every possible step to deter underage vaping, including refusing sales to minors and those buying on their behalf.

Jordan says the store was broken into with an electric hacksaw. Photo: Supplied.

"It's disheartening to see that these break-ins may be the youth's way of evading our preventative measures."

EasyPuff managing director Robert Reid says "about $2000 to $3000" worth of items were stolen.

He says his shop is designed to help people quit smoking, but the youth vaping problem is causing those who are too young to become addicted and commit crimes.

'We all have kids, and don't want them to be exposed to these kinds of products. That's why we have frosted windows, to prevent kids passing by from looking in. We believe this is the responsible approach to take.”

Robert says he often denies kids who come in with obvious fake IDs, and believes parents and older siblings of youths wanting vapes come in to buy vapes for them.

This along with 'easily accessible” disposable vapes is why he believes more youth are getting their hands on them.Police say they were advised at 2.50am there had been an alarm activation at the vape store. Photo: Supplied.

'When you've got a school confiscating a bucket load of vapes every month asking where students are getting them from, a lot of parents blame the shops and don't take any responsibility.”

Jordan says EasyPuff takes "every possible step" to deter underage vaping, including refusing sales to minors and those buying on their behalf.

"It's disheartening to see that these break-ins may be the youth's way of evading our preventative measures."

"We stand fully committed to ending the youth vaping crisis," they affirmed. In addition to educating our customers about the risks and consequences of underage vaping, we will continue to support any efforts that aim to curb this harmful trend."

Police say they were advised at 2.50am there had been an alarm activation at the vape store at 1.45am on Tuesday, May 23.

'Enquiries are on the way to identify and locate the offender,” says a police spokesperson.

Anyone who has information which could assist our enquiries is asked to contact Police via our 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report.

Please reference file number 230523/2415.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Enquiries on the earlier ram-raid at the same location on March 28/29 are ongoing. The file number for the first burglary is 230329/0515.