Children armed with hammer raid store

By CHRIS HARROWELL

Agroup of children, including one who’s just 10 years old, were caught by police after allegedly stealing items from an east Auckland store.

The incident happened at LiquorLand Howick in Elliot Street at about 9.22am on March 15.

A police spokesperson says a report was received of a group of offenders having entered the building and stolen a number of items.

Police understand several members of the group were armed with a hammer and iron bar.

“A stolen white van used by the offenders was spotted soon after by attending police units and was subsequently spiked.

“Eagle [helicopter] provided aerial support and tracked the vehicle to a location in Manurewa, where it was deliberately driven through a fence at a residential property.

“The occupants of the van have decamped into the address and six offenders were subsequently taken into custody without incident.”

Three members of the group were arrested and appeared in the Manukau Youth Court on March 15. The other three were released and referred to the police’s Youth Aid Section.

The six youths ranged in age from 10 to 15 years old.

The incident is not the first time LiquorLand Howick has been targeted by thieves.

A group of offenders crashed a stolen vehicle into the store before gaining entry and stealing bottles of alcohol form it at about 5am on April 3 last year.

The business’s owner-operator, Joss Granger, said at the time she felt emotional when she saw the damage caused to her business.

“When I pulled into the driveway I just sat in my car and cried because I wasn’t expect- ing that. It was a huge shock when I first got here, and to have police all over the place.

“Watching the [CCTV] footage feels really violating. To see people ransack your property like that with complete disregard.”

Two other Howick businesses were also broken into by thieves last week.

A fruit shop in Moore Street and a pub in Cook Street were broken into at about 3am on March 11.

“Entry was gained to both premises by smashing a glass door, with an amount of alcohol taken from one premises while nothing was stolen from the other,” the police spokesperson says.

“Police are following positive