Teen girl charged for primary school burglaries

Kawakawa Primary kids Molly Perry, Luke Dent, Miria Faulkner-Luke, Otulea Latu and Qaiden Norman were unhappy about missing out on school trips and sports after two school vans were stolen.

Police are hopeful that a devastating series of break-ins and thefts at Kawakawa Primary School has been ended by the arrest on Friday night of a 17-year-old girl.

Sergeant Kevin Milne, of Kawakawa police, said the teen was located immediately after committing another offence on Friday night.

Following a police investigation and interview she was charged with eight other offences committed in the Kawakawa area, including several at the primary school in recent weeks.

The charges include unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, relating to a van which was taken from the school car port on the weekend of October 17-18 and later found burnt out in Moerewa, and three burglaries at the school. The girl is due in the Kaikohe District Court on Friday.

Mr Milne said she was one of a number of offenders believed to be targeting schools around the Mid North.

"That's pretty low. That's the next generation. If you do that [target schools] you affect the whole town's future," he said.

It is understood the suspect has only recently turned 17. That means she will be charged in adult court and, once she appears on Friday, her name can be published.

The loss of the van in October, plus another taken from a locked garage a week later and found burnt out in Opua, meant Kawakawa Primary School had to curtail school trips and sports tournaments.

Principal Liz Ross said replacing the vans would be difficult given budget pressures from much-needed school renovations and a funding cut following its elevation from decile 1 to 2.

Staff had to improvise to ensure the school's end-of-year camps at Matauri Bay and Lonsdale Park could go ahead.

In another break-in, on the night of November 26, a digital projector, speakers and other electronic items were taken. Other incidents include damage to walls and windows.