Counties Manukau Police say they were quickly on the scent of two offenders following an aggravated robbery at a dairy on Sunday night.
Investigators are also making “good progress” in identifying other offenders involved, police say.
Detective senior sergeant Dave Paea, of Counties Manukau Police CIB, says a group of six offenders entered the East Tamaki Road dairy in Ōtara just after 9.30pm on Sunday.
“The group of offenders had arrived in a sedan, before storming into the store and jumping over the counter.
“One of the staff working suffered a minor assault, and the group stole a range of cigarettes and vape products,” Paea says.
The group then fled in the vehicle they arrived in.
Paea says a frontline police unit came across the vehicle parked on Rongomai Road while carrying out patrols.
“Police deployed one of our dog units who tracked to a nearby address, which was cordoned, and the occupants appealed to come outside.”
Two males, aged 13 and 14, were arrested and have been charged with aggravated robbery, police say.
They are both now before the Manukau Youth Court.
“We’re following positive lines of enquiry in identifying the outstanding offenders and our enquiries will continue,” Paea says.
“Our investigation teams are continuing to work diligently in holding offenders to account, particularly those offending against businesses.”
