Youths aged 13, 14 arrested over burglary

Four youths were arrested after a robbery at the NZ Vehicle Testing station in Hastings.

Four burglars aged 13 and 14 were apprehended in the Hastings suburb of Camberley on Saturday night after a burglar alarm was activated at the Vehicle Testing New Zealand 7.10pm.

Eastern District Command Centre acting Senior Sergeant Clint Adamson said with the help of a police dog and handler, tracking from the vehicle testing station and across a nearby park, four youths were arrested.

He said it was common for burglaries to be committed by teenagers but they were usually in their late teens.

"It is unusual for someone as young as 12 to be caught up in it but in the last few months we have caught some in that age bracket," he said. "They are referred to Youth Services to decide what the most appropriate way forward is.

"They will be looking at the family environment and whether they have been in trouble with the police before."

Younger offenders were arrested in a similar manner to older offenders "but what happened next is different".

"We don't take everybody back to the station necessarily - really young offenders will be taken straight home and released into the custody of their parents or caregiver."

He said if there was a history of offending a younger person may be brought to the police station.

Last month six children aged 10 to 15 were arrested by police while breaking into the Frimley Four Square store.