Puppy killed during half hour crime spree

A purebred brown Labrador puppy - similar to this dog - was removed from his crate and slaughtered. File photo / Thinkstock

A puppy was slaughtered by three people thought to be responsible for a spate of break-ins in Auckland last night, police say.

The incidents all occurred around Torrington Crescent in Glen Innes between 9.05pm and 9.35pm.

Police said a family in Torrington crescent was targeted by three offenders, two of whom broke in to their house and threatened the male resident before he and his family retreated to a secure room.

When they felt it was safe to emerge, they discovered their purebred Labrador puppy, Milo, had been "slaughtered''.

A 16-year-old youth was arrested near the scene after neighbours saw him running from the property and tackled him.

He will appear in the Auckland Youth Court on Thursday charged with two counts of unlawfully being on a property.

Around the same time there were two attempted break-ins at nearby properties and a woman arriving at her home was confronted by a young man who threatened her and stole her phone.

Police believed all four incidents were linked and appealed for information.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Glen Innes CIB on (09) 524 1921 or email karen.hoshek@police.govt.nz.