How Invercargill police stopped ‘gun’-wielding robber teens after city crime spree

The teens stole a car and then drove around Invercargill trying to rob stores. At one stage they pretended they had a gun. Photo / File

Two youths will appear in court after what police described as an “incredibly frustrating” series of burglaries - where they pretended to have a firearm - in a stolen car.

The teens tried to smash their way into an Invercargill jewellery store and service station before robbing a dairy.

And just when they thought they had got away with it, police dogs tracked them down.

Detective Peter Smallfield explained the youths' wild night of alleged offending.

“A Mazda vehicle was stolen from a Kingswell address in the early hours of the morning by two people, who later pulled up to a jewellers in the central city around 5am,” Smallfield said.

“They got out and attempted to smash the windows with a scooter - and when they were not able to gain entry, travelled to a service station in Newfield. Again, they were not able to gain entry.”

Youth crime has come under the spotlight in recent years as teens brazenly smash their way into retail stores across the country. Photo / File

“Stopping the vehicle on a street nearby, they have had an interaction with a member of the public, in which they have pretended to have a firearm with them in order to scare them away.”

They then drove to a dairy in Windsor where they did manage to smash their way in.

“The pair stole items including vapes, cash, and confectionery before getting back into the vehicle and driving a short distance away,” said Smallfield.

“A police dog unit has located the vehicle and tracked the occupants who had fled on foot, taking them into custody shortly after 6am.”

The pair have each been charged with three counts of burglary, one of theft of a motor vehicle and one of being unlawfully in a closed yard.

“This behaviour is incredibly frustrating for residents and business owners in our community, and it’s pleasing to have been able to immediately hold this pair to account,” said Smallfield.

The pair have been charged with a raft of offending and will appear in court. Photo / Ben Tomsett

“We want to extend our thanks to the members of the public who observed suspicious behaviour and reported it to police on 111 straight away, enabling the quick apprehension of the two youths.”

Smallfield said the incident was a good reminder to “take every precaution possible to help avoid becoming a victim of crime”.

“Remember to take property security measures with your vehicles – keep them inside a secure garage if possible, remove valuables, and consider a steering wheel lock," he urged.

“This all helps make your vehicle less desirable for opportunistic thieves.”