Teen Arrested in Christchurch Dairy Robbery Investigation

A 17-year-old male has been arrested in Christchurch in connection with a series of recent crimes, notably an aggravated robbery at a local dairy on March 12, 2024. The teenager was apprehended this afternoon in the suburb of New Brighton and is set to face multiple charges, including burglary, aggravated robbery, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

In a statement, Christchurch District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill emphasized the ongoing efforts of police to identify additional suspects involved in this incident and other recent youth-related offenses. “We continue to work at pace to identify other parties involved in this and other recent youth offending, and hold those parties to account,” he said.

Earlier this week, another suspect, a 14-year-old boy, was arrested in connection with the robbery at the Opawa Rd Dairy. The police are actively seeking information from the public to assist their inquiries. They encourage anyone with relevant details to contact them at 105, referencing Operation Anchor, or to share information anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.

To address rising youth crime in the region, law enforcement has announced that they will deploy the Auckland-based Eagle helicopter in Canterbury for a two-month period. This initiative aims to enhance surveillance and support ground operations targeting youth offenders.

The recent wave of incidents has raised concerns among local communities, prompting police to intensify their efforts to ensure public safety and deter further criminal activity.