Boys go on crime spree

Three teenage boys have been arrested after an eight-hour crime spree in Tauranga involving two aggravated robberies and three thefts from liquor stores.

The boys, two aged 15 and the other 16, will appear in the Tauranga District Court this morning.

Police said their offending began on Saturday at noon, when they stole a shotgun from a rural property near Tauranga.

The gun was found a short time later in long grass, preventing an armed offenders squad callout, but not stopping the boys running riot in the city until 8pm.

They allegedly stole alcohol from two shops during the day and were caught after a third theft.