A 12-year-old boy who attempted to rob a Kaitaia dairy at gunpoint on Sunday night was chased off by the dairy owner armed with a broom. The child got away with some sweets, but was taken into police custody a short time later.
According to police the child entered the North Road Dairy at 8.35pm, armed with a rifle. Detective Richard Garton said the weapon was not believed to have been loaded, and no ammunition was found when the address he had been at was searched.
The boy and a 15-year-old alleged co-offender, who covered their lower faces before entering the dairy, had been at an address in nearby Matthews' Avenue with six other young people. No adults were present. They walked the short distance to the dairy, attracting the attention of a local probation officer as they entered the shop.
The younger boy allegedly presented the rifle at the shopkeeper and demanded money, stuffing sweets into his pockets as he did so.
The probation officer saw the boys fleeing and called the police, who found them at the Matthews' Avenue address. There they were abused by the other young people, who locked the doors and windows. Entry was forced and the two alleged offenders were found, along with the rifle and the clothes they had been wearing.
