Whangārei’s Claphams Clock Museum is closing 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.

Smashed glass was some of the damage caused after the Claphams Clock Museum was burgled overnight. Photo / Brodie Stone

The vehicles were later found abandoned on William Jones Drive 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.

Whangārei District Council’s general manager of community services, Victoria Harwood, said an activated alarm system alerted security to the burglary.

“It’s extremely sad for the museum to have been targeted, and sad to be turning visitors away during peak season,” Harwood said.

The museum, which is owned and run by the council, will be closed until March 8 for police investigations, repairs, a stock take and cleaning.

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.