TOP STORY: Truant boys out raiding

Truancy-related offending has surged in Hastings as a group of young boys cut classes to commit crimes.
Twenty-three boys have been pinpointed as the reason behind a rise in car crimes and burglaries in the past two months. The boys, aged between 10 and 14, are suspected of carrying out at least 86 offences, predominantly in Flaxmere.
This week police began Operation Sweep, targeting the young truants.
Many of the boys admitted the thefts, saying they "wagged" school to burgle homes and cars to get money and alcohol. Although not old enough to drive, some had stolen cars to go "hooning around", with police recently stopping an 11-year-old driver.
Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said police were concerned at the level of truancy. "Over three-quarters of the offending occurred during school hours," he said.
Two of the boys, teenage twins, had not been inside a classroom for over a year - despite their mother being prosecuted twice over it.
Mr Brown said the boys targeted car parks and loitered, waiting for people to leave their vehicles.
"The message is simple, always secure your vehicle and avoid leaving valuable items in your vehicle. Valuable items left in plain sight virtually ask an offender to break into your car," Mr Brown said.
Police would liaise with schools and Child Youth and Family (CYF) to crack down on truancy and hold offenders accountable.
While most of the boys were too young to be charged, they would be referred to CYF for assessments on their care and protection.
Constable Sue Robinson of Flaxmere Youth Aid said truancy had hit a high with a circle of child offenders.
Police would be taking a "hard line" and prosecute parents when children under 14 were found to be unsupervised or skipping school.
The crime spate resulted in thousands of dollars worth of items lost and damage done.
One woman, who works in the Flaxmere village, said she had noticed the group of boys hanging around, causing trouble and stealing.
She had been one of their victims but because they were under 14 they could not be prosecuted.
"I don't think there is much hope for them at that age, they just get a slap on the wrist. Nothing can be done and they think they are bullet-proof," she said.
Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said the youth justice system needed to "get tough". Laws were in place to hold parents accountable and should be used.
"Parents need to be responsible for their children otherwise they shouldn't be having them," he said.
The Hastings truancy services provider could not be contacted.