Four held over bowling alley break-in

Barbara Nonu, Superstrike Tenpin Bowling owner, is pleased four young males who allegedly burgled her business have been caught. Photo / Paul Taylor

A boy aged 11 was among a group of young males caught by police after allegedly burgling a Hastings bowling alley.

Police dog handlers caught up with the four accused on Sunday night.

Senior Sergeant Clint Adamson, of the Eastern District Command Centre, said the boys had allegedly smashed their way into Superstrike Tenpin Bowling on Omahu Rd.

It was alleged they broke into the building about 10.15pm. A security guard who arrived at scene allegedly was threatened with an iron bar.

Police dogs were used to locate two of the alleged offenders, while the other two were caught in a neighbouring street.

Those arrested were aged 11, 13, 15 and 19. The three younger teens would be referred to Police Youth Aid, while the 19-year-old was charged with burglary.

The centre's owner and manager, Barbara Nonu, said a tyre iron had been used to break through the front entrance.

The building's main door, which was made of double-sided glass, had been "completely smashed in," Ms Nonu said.

Once inside, the intruders had rummaged through drawers looking for money, and tripped an alarm system which alerted a security guard.

"We were lucky the monitoring company was in the area and they called police right away," she said. "It was a very good response."

The fact that four suspects were apprehended had been "amazing".

Ms Nonu said the centre had been burgled in the past, "but not for quite some time". She was not yet sure of the cost to repair the building's entrance.

Mr Adamson said police were pleased the alleged offenders were caught, given there had been a spate of burglaries in the region lately.

"It's a really good outcome. It's disappointing the offending has happened, but there was a very good response from police," he said.

Thieves have hit the Onekawa and Pandora industrial areas hard during the past two months, mostly targeting batteries and scrap metal, with 17 burglaries reported.

Hastings woman Carleena Torea, who lives on Montgomery St, Raureka, also reported having been burgled twice while out of town at her grandmother's funeral and again a few days later.