Youths run riot in centre of Hastings

AUCKLAND: Youths ran riot in the heart of Hastings at the weekend as the school holidays came to a close.

On Saturday, four young males entered Focal Point Cinema in Heretaunga St, shooting toy guns, mouthing off at staff and uplifting tables and chairs.

Cinema duty manager July Maiga said the group had entered the men’s toilets, looking suspicious. After they had spent some time in there, the manager asked them what they were doing.

‘‘They were all in the same cubicle and they started swearing at the manager before they left the cinema,’’ Ms Maiga said.

Then, moments later, the group returned with toy guns and bullets and started shooting inside the building near the cinema’s restaurant and cafe.

‘‘They then just poured a whole lot of bullets in the foyer and started being quite violent, they were just messing things up.’’

A member of staff had called City Assist, who arrived quickly, and chased the boys down the road.

Fluorescent toy gun bullets remained all over the road outside the cinema and on the pavement yesterday.

Less than 24 hours later, yesterday afternoon, another group of youths were chased by City Assist and taken by police for committing more antisocial behaviour.

A police spokeswoman said the four boys were wanted for stealing a bike about 2.35pm yesterday.

City Assist chased the group down Heretaunga St, where the boys kicked and pushed over The Food Store Canteen’s barriers and chairs.

The group were then stopped by City Assist and police on the corner of Warren and Heretaunga Sts.

The Food Store Canteen manager Peter Paul said the youths had tipped up their outside furniture but no damage was done.

‘‘It was more just annoying,’’ Mr Paul said.

Hastings City Business Association president Susan McDade said she had noticed a rise in this sort of petty crime in the past week and suggested it was due to being the end of the school holidays.

‘‘Children get bored in the final week of the holidays and children who are bored are not a good combination.’’

Ms McDade said association members had seen similar incidents around the area and children had climbed on city roofs during the past week.

‘‘We are so lucky to have City Assist who can get to these incidents quickly and deal to this antisocial behaviour before it gets any worse.’’

Ms McDade said the young groups were not causing actual damage. It was more an annoyance for local businesses and the community.

A police spokeswoman said there was no indication that the two incidents involving four male youths were related. — NZME