13-year-old accused of taking teacher's car

Police are seeking a 13-year-old girl who allegedly stole a car from one of her Tauranga Girls College teachers and crashed it.

The girl, who had been placed into a local home by Child Youth and Family, was also sought for burglaries in the Tauranga area.

Police said the student took a 1997 Nissan Primera from the school carpark about lunchtime on February 9.

She scraped the Nissan along the side of the assistant principal's car, which was also in the carpark.

After driving the vehicle out on to the road, she then crashed into a third car right outside the college.

"There was quite a lot of extensive damage to both vehicles," said Detective Rob Janes.

The day after the crash, the girl was reported missing from her CYF placement home.

She was now being sought regarding burglaries that occurred before and after February 9, said Mr Janes.

The girl would probably face charges over the crash.

College principal Pauline Cowens said the girl was no longer enrolled at the school.

- NZPA