Two teens have been arrested after a house was broken into and two air rifles stolen in Upper Hutt.
Hutt Valley police Senior Sergeant Marc Clausen said two males were seen leaving the house in Gemstone Drive in Upper Hutt.
They were returning to a stolen car with two air rifles when they were confronted by a member of the public.
Mr Clausen said the youths assaulted the 40-year-old man, who was not injured, before running away.
A police dog was used to track the offenders, and two people were arrested in the Timberlea area about an hour later.