Six teens arrested after thieving spree

Six teenagers on a thieving spree from cars in the Far North - including two girls aged 13 - have been arrested but only after crashing a stolen vehicle.

Six teenagers on a thieving spree from cars in the Far North - including two girls aged 13 - have been arrested but only after crashing a stolen vehicle.

Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said a 14-year-old boy, believed to be in Child Youth and Family (CYF) custody, allegedly stole a car from Auckland and drove to Omapere, 60km south west of Kaikohe, last Sunday.

Another car was stolen and was later crashed in Kaitaia.

Police say following the theft of the vehicle there were a number of incidents of unlawful interference of vehicles parked in Kaitaia. Mrs Kennett said police were told some young people were involved in the dishonesty offending. Police then carried out a small operation to locate the offenders.

"They searched a number of residential addresses, vacant buildings and other areas where the offenders were known to hang out," Mrs Kennett said.

Last Thursday officers carried out a search warrant at a Kaitaia property and located two girls aged 13, a girl aged 15, two 14-year-old boys, and one boy aged 17. They are facing a number of vehicle crime charges including unlawful taking and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle. Three are in CYF custody, the youngest two have been referred to the police Youth Aid section and the 17-year-old has been released on bail.

Far North Area Prevention Manager Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said police thanked members of the public who provided information which helped officers locate the offenders. "We believe that within two days of these offenders being in the Far North area their crimes affected at least 10 victims and there was significant amount of damage done to vehicles.

"Police treated the spate of dishonesty offending with urgency and using many different staff ... were able to put a stop to the offending."