The parents of three youths who allegedly robbed the Gull service station in Hastings early yesterday have been applauded by police for taking their sons to the police station and handing them in.
An 18-year-old youth and a 14-year-old boy arrived at the station with their parents yesterday, and a second 14-year-old turned up with his parents and a lawyer this morning.
Detective Jude Hill of the Hastings CIB said the parents of one boy, who had never been in trouble before, were "devastated".
"The others are very disappointed. All the parents have been brilliant and have co-operated fully," she said.
The parents, and their boys, had been spoken to early yesterday morning as police followed strong leads, with the parents later taking them to the police station after making inquiries of their own.
The attendant of the Woolworths-Gull service station on Omahu Road was allegedly attacked with a tomahawk during the incident about 2am. He received what police said were superficial cuts to his head as well as injuries to his hands as he attempted to fend his attacker off.
The service station manager said the attendant, and a colleague who witnessed the violent confrontation, were still in a state of shock over what had happened.
She had visited the pair and believed the victim of the tomahawk was likely to return to work when he recovered.
Company policy forbade the attendants talking to the media.
Ms Hill said the arrested trio would be jointly charged in Hastings Youth Court today with aggravated robbery.
None of the property stolen from the service station had yet been recovered, Ms Hill said.
TOP STORY: Parents turn in station-robbing teens
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