Police have apprehended four youths, including a 12-year-old, in connection to a series of aggravated robberies and assaults in West Auckland. The arrests were made this morning in Green Bay, where police were investigating an alleged incident that occurred last Friday. The four individuals were identified and taken into custody after being seen wearing masks, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Inspector Kelly Farrant, the area prevention manager for Waitematā West, stated, "We identified the group as individuals wanted in connection to several alleged assaults and robberies."
These youths, aged between 12 and 14, are believed to be linked to serious incidents in the New Lynn, Henderson, and Westgate areas. These arrests follow a surge in aggravated assaults in the broader New Lynn area in recent weeks.
In one incident, a 13-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly attacked by a group of up to 20 children as she waited for her bus at the New Lynn station. The mother of the victim expressed shock, stating, "I thought she would have been safe in such a public place, but I guess not."
Another incident involved a young man being targeted in a brutal daytime attack at a McDonald’s restaurant in West Auckland, where he was assaulted by four individuals as families fled the chaos.
Inspector Farrant highlighted the concern over the involvement of such young individuals in serious crimes, calling it "deeply troubling." She emphasised that the police response involves not just enforcement but also prevention and intervention strategies.
Following these events, an increased police presence has been deployed at the New Lynn bus and train station areas. Authorities are working closely with partners at Auckland Transport, Auckland Council, local schools, and community organisations to ensure the safety of transport hubs and town centres.
In a separate incident on April 24, a teenage girl was allegedly attacked by a group of six other teenage girls at Henderson bus station, with the assault filmed by someone. Similarly, two teenage girls were allegedly assaulted by a group of six young people on a bus in Albany on April 22.
Waitematā East Police Relieving Area Commander Mike Rickards expressed concern, stating, "Both victims were assaulted by a member of the group before all six ran from the bus on foot towards the shopping centre nearby."
Rickards added, "Concerningly, a knife was located on the 14-year-old male and was confiscated."
The attacks have left victims traumatised, with one victim expressing fear of using the bus again.
ISSUE
