Two students from Porirua's Bishop Viard College have received an award for helping police tackle a burglary suspect.
Police were tracking a stolen vehicle in Porirua in February when a man suspected of committing a spate of burglaries crashed the vehicle and ran into school grounds.
Students Robert (15) and Oliver (17) were waiting for a ride home after rugby practise when one of them spotted a suspicious-looking man.
The teenagers tackled the man, stalling him long enough for the officer and his police dog to start tracking.
The suspect jumped through a window into an office to escape. After putting up a fight, he was apprehended by the officer with assistance from the two students.
On Friday, police staff attended a school assembly to present the two boys with the Area Commander's Certificate of Appreciation.
"The community rightly expects police to keep them safe - and for police to achieve this, we also need the public's help," Inspector Nick Thom told the school on Friday.
"Oliver and Rob were brave to do so during the incident when they could have stood by and taken no action."
Police say that without their assistance, the outcome would have been very different.
"Their actions assisted in preventing further significant harm in Wellington District and ensured the community is much safer."
The man has been charged with 26 offences.
