Robbers are ditching vehicles for power tools as they change tack in their relentless bid to fleece dairies and bottle stores

Open Justice reports ram raids have become so common, police even created a specific offence description to gather data.

But Waikato retailer Ash Parmar says offenders are now using power tools to break in.

He says the biggest escalation he's seen is kids using angle grinders -- cutting entire doors off hinges, or locks.

Once inside, they use their tools to cut into cigarette cabinets and other parts of the store that are locked.

Police say they're aware of offenders using power tools at burglaries but hadn't noticed a particular increase.