Two teens have been arrested after a couple of unsuccessful attempted robberies in Invercargill.
Police said there were failed attempts to rob a jewellery store and service station before a member of the public was threatened and a dairy was finally broken into for vapes, cash and lollies.
Detective Peter Smallfield said the string of incidents began with a Mazda vehicle being stolen from a home in Kingswell early this morning which was driven to the jewellers in the central city around 5am.
“They have got out and attempted to smash the windows with a scooter and, when they were not able to gain entry, travelled to a service station in Newfield,” Smallfield said.
“Again, they were not able to gain entry.”
After the failed break-ins, police alleged the teens stopped a vehicle on a street, telling a member of the public they had a firearm in order to scare them away.
“They have then travelled to a dairy in Windsor, where they have managed to smash their way in,” Smallfield said.
Vapes, cash and lollies were taken from the dairy, polcie said, before the pair allegedly fled on foot from a police dog unit. They were found and apprehended shortly after 6am.
Police said two teenagers were due in Invercargill Youth Court today, charged with three counts of burglary, one of theft of a motor vehicle and one of being unlawfully closed in a yard.
“This behaviour is incredibly frustrating for residents and business owners in our community, and it’s pleasing to have been able to immediately hold this pair to account,” said Smallfield.
