A gang of children as young as 6 are being blamed for a spate of crimes, including vandalism and arson, which have left one elderly war veteran feeling imprisoned in his home.
The Featherston man, 86, who declined to be named for fear of reprisal, said he was afraid to go out at night on his mobility scooter because he's "too good a target".
"I live alone and I can't even go out for a beer of a night - it's too dangerous going home. They've just got control of the place," the returned serviceman said.
Police have confirmed children, some aged under 10, have been roaming Featherston, committing crimes and abusing people.
Sergeant Kevin Basher said the problem started about six months ago, when a core of three or four troublemakers, with as many as 15 others, began a campaign of crime - lighting fires, stealing, damaging cars, shops and houses and abusing people in the street.