A man with a samurai sword and ammunition belt who broke into a Christchurch home sparked an armed offenders squad (AOS) callout, before police discovered he was locked out of his house after a fancy dress party.
A neighbour called police around 12.45am on Sunday after hearing a window breaking at the suburban Avondale house.
When police responded, they saw the sword and belt in a vehicle.
They placed a cordon around the property and called the AOS.
When the AOS contacted the house's occupants, the man appeared at the door and explained his partner had locked him out of the house, so he had to break a window to get in.
On closer inspection, the sword and belt were found to be props, police said.
- NZPA
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