Northland's criminals were well short on Christmas spirit with numerous crimes recorded across the region from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, with 10 people having to spend Christmas Day in Whangarei police cells.

Whangarei Police Sergeant Paul Nicholas said sadly many criminals did not take the Christmas period off and caused plenty of problems for others.

Mr Nicholas said the 10 who spent Christmas Day in the cells - for offences ranging from domestic violence to robbery - didn't get any special festive fare with only a lunch of two pies on offer.

Twelve people appeared in Whangarei District Court yesterday - nine from Whangarei and three from the Far North - after being arrested during the last few days.

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He said over the three days to yesterday morning eight burglaries were recorded - including two in Whangarei on Christmas Day - seven shoplifters caught, four thefts from cars, six other thefts, two thefts of animals - including 50 ewes and lambs from a farm at Maungaturoto - four drink drivers, three disqualified drivers and a dangerous driver.

As well, he said, there were a number of domestic disputes that police were called out to, including one in Ranger Place, Raumanga, where a man was issued with a police safety order at 9.50pm on Christmas Day ordering him to stay away from the property for five days.

However, police were called to the home again at 8.30am yesterday as the man had returned and he was arrested.

A Maungaturoto family returned home at 9pm on Christmas Day to find their property had been burgled and a $9000 red Honda 400 quad bike stolen.

Meanwhile a large amount of electrical equipment was taken when a home on Western Hills Dr, Whangarei, was broken into between 11am and 9pm on Christmas Day, Mr Nicholas said. Thieves smashed a rear window and stole three cameras, a lap top, iPad, PS3 and Xbox.

He said a farmer checking stock on James Rd, Maungaturoto on Christmas Eve noticed there appeared to be fewer of them than when they were sheared a few days earlier.

Mr Nicholas said the man discovered that 50 ewes and lambs were missing. He said a vehicle would have been needed to steal the sheep.

An Otangarei man was arrested and charged with two counts of assaulting police and of disorderly behaviour after police were called to reports of fighting in Miro St at 10.45pm on Tuesday.

Mr Nicholas said when officers arrived a 24-year-old man became aggressive towards them and was arrested for disorderly behaviour.

He alleged the man spat at two officers and tried to bite them while in the back of the police car as he was taken to the station.

Elsewhere, jumping on a car roof while yelling gang slogans proved enough to get an Otangarei man a visit to the cells on Christmas Day.

Officers were called to Otangarei at 11am on Wednesday where they found the young man allegedly jumping on the roof yelling the slogans.

He was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour.

On the three days over Christmas, Northland police recorded:

8 burglaries

7 shoplifters

6 other thefts

4 thefts from cars

4 drink drivers

3 disqualified drivers

2 thefts of animals

1 dangerous driver

And quite a few domestic incidents.