Five youths aged 13-15 armed with firearms and axe rob north Waikato liquor store

A liquor store in Pōkeno was raided on Monday night by a group of teenagers. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Five young teens are set to appear in court after raiding a Waikato liquor store armed with a pistol, shotgun and axe.

Police say the group aged between 13 and 15 years was involved in a police chase on State Highway 1 and tracked from the air and by dogs to a property some 11km away after stealing alcohol from a Pōkeno bottle shop.

Counties Manukau South Area Commander Inspector Joe Hunter said the group of masked robbers were carrying a number of weapons including a pistol, shotgun and an axe when they entered the Market St West store.

He said police responded to the robbery after 6pm but the offenders had already fled in a nearby vehicle.

“The five masked offenders initially fled in a vehicle which they abandoned nearby.

“As our staff arrived into the area, they sited another vehicle driving at high speed and continuing south on State Highway One.”

Police abandoned the pursuit of the vehicle when the Police Air Support Unit was overhead and “keeping a watching eye.

“Eagle monitored this vehicle heading into the Meremere area and it was located abandoned on Emere Pl.

A variety of vaping products were left scattered among broken glass at the scene of the previous Pokeno burglary in July. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“A dog unit was deployed into the area and successfully tracked to a nearby address.”

Five young people, aged between 13 and 15, were taken into custody at the address.

Police conducted a search at the address and recovered the stolen alcohol, along with masks and the weapons allegedly used in the incident.

“It is pleasing we have been able to apprehend these alleged offenders,” said Hunter. “Police take this offending seriously and we will utilise our tools and resources to ensure we hold offending to account.

“I’m conscious this is a second aggravated robbery in recent weeks at this store, and we will continue to ensure there is support in place for our business community.”

Those five have been charged with aggravated robbery along with charges relating to the theft of a motor vehicle.

The same liquor store was hit by a robbery last month, which resulted in four teenagers being arrested after a 40km intercity crime spree.

A range of merchandise was taken from the store and loaded into the two stolen vehicles.

The youths, aged 16 and 17, fled police on a half-hour getaway drive, travelling 42km before the vehicle was spiked and arrests made near Huntly.

The damaged Bottle-O store in Pokeno following the previous robbery in July. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Jaime Lyth is an Auckland-based reporter who covers crime. She joined the Herald in 2021 and has previously reported for The Northern Advocate.