Several vacant Housing New Zealand houses in Napier have been targeted by young burglars and vandals.
Members of one group, mainly aged 10-11 years but one aged just 7, hit three empty properties in one street in one afternoon.
Constable Jeff Attwood of Napier police said the group climbed a fire escape at the rear of a two-storey unoccupied unit in Maraenui, about 4.30pm on April 12.
Walls were kicked in and some of the group damaged two other empty Housing New Zealand properties in the same street.
A resident has also told Hawke's Bay Today of an incident in which teenagers took over another empty house to party in the darkness for the night.
