Father's court plea to son on crime-spree charges

The father of a teenage boy charged in relation to an eight-hour crime spree in Tauranga made an emotional plea to his son when he appeared in court yesterday.

"Son, you've got to stop this," the man said. "You've made fools of all of us."

The 15-year-old is one of three boys facing two charges of aggravated robbery, two of burglary and three of theft after a string of incidents in the city on Saturday.

The trio, whose identities cannot be revealed because they are juveniles, entered no plea when they appeared in the Tauranga Youth Court.

Two of the boys were released on bail but the 15-year-old was remanded in custody until the group's next appearance on October 17. He was to spend last night in police cells because Child, Youth and Family facilities had no free beds.

A CYF representative at the court said it could be the end of the week before a bed became available.

Police allege the boys began their crime spree on Saturday at noon, when they stole a shotgun from a rural property near Tauranga.

They dumped the gun but later used a knife to rob a liquor store and steal a car.

The store owner's fingers were cut in a scuffle with the boys, who police said also wielded a large piece of wood.

The trio were arrested soon after they were caught stealing alcohol from another bottle store at 8pm.

It was their third theft of alcohol from different shops during the day.

Judge Peter Rollo forbade the two who were remanded on bail, aged 14 and 15, from consuming alcohol or drugs as part of the conditions for their release.

He also told the one remanded in custody: "Alcohol is a problem that needs to be addressed."

Before the boy was led away, his father spoke, choking back tears as he told of the family's disappointment and shame.

"We love you. You can't continue to do this to everyone who loves you," he said.

The boy's older brother asked the judge if he could take the boy into his care on an island where he lives.

He said the boy would be a changed person if he was able to spend six months with him on the island.

Judge Rollo said he would ask the CYF representative, Graham Stewart, to investigate the possibility if the service had no free bed by the end of the week.

"It may become a viable option in due course if a bed does not become available."

Eight young people charged with serious offences were on the waiting list for entry to CYF facilities around the country yesterday.