Seven people have been arrested, six of them aged 15 and under, after two incidents in Palmerston North and Foxton overnight.
Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said police received a report of an aggravated robbery in the Square in Palmerston North at around 8.15pm.
“One person received minor injuries and the group of offenders fled on foot with stolen items.”
Police located the group on Featherston St but they evaded officers.
A police dog team tracked the offenders to Mersey Tce where they were arrested, Grantham said.
Four youths aged between 11 and 15 years old are due to appear in the Palmerston North Youth Court on April 15 charged with aggravated robbery.
In a separate incident, a commercial premises in Foxton was ram-raided and burgled at around 1.30am this morning.
“The offenders fled in a vehicle that was subsequently observed travelling at speed into Palmerston North,” Grantham said.
Road spikes were deployed near Karere Rd, bringing the vehicle to a stop on Pioneer Highway where two youths aged 14 and 15 years old and a 24-year-old man were arrested.
The 15-year-old is due to appear in Palmerston North Youth Court on April 15, and the 24-year-old is due to appear in Palmerston North District Court on April 15, facing charges in relation to the incident.
Grantham said police understood the frustration and fear offending causes in communities.
“I hope these arrests give victims of crime some reassurance that Police will respond quickly to incidents and hold offenders to account.”
