Sibling burglars arrested

Hamilton police are praising neighbours for helping to catch brother and sister burglars yesterday.

The pair, aged 18 and 16, had knocked on the door at a Moreland Ave house in the suburb of Pukete about 11.15am and, after receiving no reply, broke in using chisels, police said.

But the house alarm went off and the pair ran off empty-handed.

Police dogs tracked them to a nearby park after neighbours called police.

They were charged with burglary and would appear in Hamilton Youth Court today.

A third teen who had committed burglaries in the area was also arrested again yesterday after earlier escaping custody, police said.

The 16-year-old had appeared in Hamilton Youth Court on Monday and was bailed to a family home in Tauranga, but escaped youth workers before he could be taken from Hamilton.

He was believed to have carried out another burglary after escaping, but was arrested again yesterday afternoon and would also appear in the Youth Court today charged with burglary.

- NZPA