Early this morning, Police brought a group’s alleged offending spree, including burglaries, an aggravated robbery and ramming of a Police vehicle, to an end.
Whangārei Police arrested the teenagers, aged between 13-15, after a series of incidents across two days between Browns Bay and Whangārei.
On 14 August at about 1.20am Police were called following a report of a burglary at a petrol station on State Highway 1, Whakapara.
Three people were reportedly smashing windows and took a number of items before fleeing.
At around 3.11am that same morning Police were notified of a burglary at a fast food restaurant on Bank Street.
Three males were seen entering the premises and taking a till and a number of other items before leaving.
Police have now linked this group to an aggravated robbery at a restaurant in Browns Bay, Auckland last night.
At around 10.40pm a group of three masked males entered the store on Clyde Road armed with knives and screw drivers and made demands for money.
The offenders stole cash registers from behind the counter before fleeing in a vehicle.
Then, at 12.32am Police were called to a petrol station on State Highway 1, Te Hana after a group of offenders gained entry to the store.
They stole a number of items before fleeing in a stolen vehicle.
Detective Senior Sergeant Geoff McCarthy, of Whangārei CIB, says Police were then called at approximately 1.37am to a petrol station on State Highway 1, Oakleigh following a report of a burglary.
“At about 1.46am a mobile Police patrol unit located the vehicle involved in the initial burglary and signalled for the vehicle to stop.
“When the driver failed to stop Police initiated a pursuit,” Detective Senior Sergeant McCarthy says.
“Shortly after, the pursuing Police vehicle was rammed by the offending vehicle and rendered immobile. Thankfully the officers involved were uninjured.”
Spikes were successfully deployed a short time later and the vehicle was brought to a stop.
The offenders abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot and after a brief search of the area, four young people were arrested. Property was recovered from both of the burglary scenes.
“I would like to acknowledge the work carried out by our staff, who quickly located this group and took them into custody,” he says.
“This type of crime is unacceptable and has no place in our communities.
“We want to reassure the community that this type of offending will not be tolerated. We work hard to hold offenders to account and to ensure the safety of our community.”
All four teenagers will appear in Whangārei Youth Court today.
