Three children arrested after ram-raiding Coromandel shop, crashing stolen car in Hamilton

  • 25/04/2022
The boys were found by police after crashing a stolen vehicle into a fence.
The boys were found by police after crashing a stolen vehicle into a fence. Photo credit: Getty Images

Three teenage boys have been arrested in Hamilton after carrying out a ram-raid burglary in a small Coromandel town, 180km away.

Eastern Waikato Area Commander Inspector Dean Anderson said the trio - aged 13, 14 and 15 - were involved in the burglary of a shop in Whitianga in the early hours of Anzac Day.

"The three young men used a stolen vehicle to gain entry to a shop on Albert Street, Buffalo Beach, just before 4am," he said.

"The trio was arrested by Hamilton staff after Whitianga staff successfully identified the youths and put out the alert across the district.

"The group was located by Hamilton Police after they crashed the stolen vehicle into a fence."

None of the boys were injured in the crash, and they will each appear in Hamilton District Court on Tuesday facing charges of burglary.

"This is an excellent example of police working together across their district to hold these offenders to account," Insp Anderson added.

"Police acknowledge this type of offending causes concern in our communities, and it will not be tolerated."

Police will not comment further on the incident now that it's before the court.