Police have busted a schoolboy crime ring after the group of truant teenagers went on a two-week robbery spree across Hamilton.
The seven schoolboys, aged 14 to 15, were arrested last week in connection with the theft of several cars and 26 residential burglaries, Detective Sergeant Ricky Thompson said.
It
was the largest youth crime operation for some time, he said.
"Their methods allegedly involved identifying a property of interest, doing a door knock, and if nobody answered breaking into the home and stealing valuables," he said
"Even rest homes weren't safe, with the group stealing a car from a city care facility. Residents and staff at a home thought one thief was a resident's grandchild before he made off with a car."
Police put a halt to the crime spree last Wednesday when officers at a reported burglary noticed three cars travelling in convoy and pulled them over.
"The car stolen from the rest home was recovered and it turned out the other vehicles were stolen too," Mr Thompson said.
Some stolen property was recovered and two youths and two adults were arrested.
"Not all of the group were involved in each burglary but participants in one would intermingle with others in the group to carry out others."
The group appeared in the Hamilton District and Youth Courts on Thursday. Family group conferences have been scheduled for the youths over coming weeks.
Police are also investigating two other youth criminal groups.
A police dog tracked four offenders from a burglary in Forest Lake, in which the youngest offender was 11 and another was 13.
Police were first alerted to the group's activities after a resident noticed the school-aged boys acting suspiciously around a Hamilton home.
Follow-up inquiries resulted in the recovery of substantial amounts of property including jewellery and electronics.
Three more youths are also being interviewed in relation to a burglary of a Claudelands property over the weekend.
Some of the most effective tools in targeting youth offending were also some of the most simple, Mr Thompson said.
"If you see people who look like they should be at school hanging around a property or appearing to be up to no good then give police a call."
- NZPA
