An alleged burglar was able to steal 11 firearms from Palmerston North police station because a door was left open by officers.
Police have now arrested Alan James Harris, 38, and charged him with theftlast Thursday.
Harris was allegedly able to get to the firearms by freely walking into the station and beating down the door to the armoury, Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Clement today told television programme, The AM Show.
"It's unacceptable by any standard, especially our own. Regrettably, an external secure door that should have been secure was left open," Clement said.
"There was an alarmed and secured internal door and he was able to break that down and get inside that storeroom and access the firearms."