Boys steal icecreams at gunpoint

Dairy owners and husband and wife Shazia Hussain (L) and Tahir Ketan. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A teenage boy was being questioned by police yesterday after a dairy was held up at gunpoint for icecream and chocolate biscuits - prompting calls for urgent action on youth crime.

A security tape of the robbery shows three boys - two wearing masks - enter the Edendale Superette in Auckland's inner suburbs.

One of the boys pulls out what appears to be a silver pistol and points it at shopkeeper Shazia Hussain who was alone in the shop with her two-month old baby sleeping in a back room. While one boy waves the pistol, the other two pack a bag with icecream and chocolate. They then demand cigarettes and cash, making off with about $400.

The alleged robbery is the latest in a string of violent offences carried out by teenagers which includes the bashing of Scot Stuart Martin, 31, who was in New Zealand to attend a friend's wedding. He was in a coma in hospital yesterday as the wedding went ahead.

The number of young people arrested for violent crimes in New Zealand has soared by 50 per cent in the 10 years to 2007 while other offending has stayed static.

Prime Minister John Key has previously warned of youth offenders being "1000 ticking timebombs". He said last night he was "appalled by these crimes".

He said there was "no silver bullet" solution but tackling the problem was a priority for the Government. He also warned "no one should be under any illusions about how difficult it is going to be".

The Herald on Sunday watched yesterday as police put three boys into a patrol car to be taken away for questioning. They were released early afternoon without charges being laid.

Detective Barry MacDowell of Avondale Police said no arrests had been made and would only confirm the suspects were three teenage male Maori or Pacific Islanders.

Edendale Superette husband and wife owners Tahir Ketan and Shazia Hussain were shocked at the young age of the robbers. Hussain was particularly shaken at the robbery happening while she was alone in the shop.

"She is okay now but she was shaken and crying when it happened," said Tahir. "I don't care about the money or the smokes, it's my wife - she's got a two-month old baby."

The couple had suffered occasional shoplifting incidents involving youngsters but this was the first serious incident involving weapons and intimidation.

Witnesses Tommy and Sarah Dorrian were driving past when they saw three boys running down Sandringham Rd and through Edendale Reserve carrying a large bag. "They looked no older than 14," said Dorrian.

The alleged robbery, which may have been carried out with a replica weapon, is the latest in a string of violent offences carried out by teenagers.

In Napier, Scottish tourist Stuart Martin was assaulted while on a stag night for friend Ryan McBrearty, who yesterday married Meghan Leahy. Before the wedding, McBrearty said he was "on the verge of a breakdown" over the attack. Three 17-year-olds have been remanded and will return to court tomorrow.

Friends of Martin spoke last night of their fear for the young Scot who lived in New Zealand for two years, learning to fly at the Wakatipu Aero Club in Queenstown.

He took his first flying job was at Milford Sound Scenic Flights, where operations manager Blair Culling was shocked by the attack and said Martin's head injuries could spell the end of his flying career.

"Medical history is a pilot's bread and butter, if you've got a bad history it could be the end of flying for you."

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said dealing with youth offending was a "huge priority" for the Government.

Legislation introduced this month will allow courts to keep young people in a youth justice facility for longer and to impose longer supervision orders and longer parenting orders to address problems at home.

The changes also allow for military-style training camps as part of intensive year-long programmes.

Bennett said boot camps wouldn't work in isolation, but could be effective as a small part of a longer-term programme.

Labour social development spokeswoman Annette King said the Government's plan didn't address the root causes of youth offending.

"It's not just a matter of 1000 young people at high risk, it's trying to prevent any more coming into the system.

"What are they going to do in funding the NGO sector to help families in trouble, for example, funding for budget services?"

Family First NZ director Bob McCoskrie said the country was becoming desensitised over violent crime committed by teenagers.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Anna Leask and Rhiannon Horrell