Child, 7, among those in toy raid

Police say they are shocked after four children, one just 7 years old, were caught attempting to steal from a Hamilton shopping centre in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Multiple alarm activations alerted the police to the break-in at the Chartwell Shopping Centre about 1am. Staff arrived to find the four children, aged 7, 10, 11 and 12, at the scene holding stolen toys and other goods, police said in a statement.

The 11-year-old ran off after seeing the police, but staff chose not to follow him and stayed with the other three remaining youngsters.

In his attempt to flee, the boy had fallen about eight metres to the ground, injuring his arm.

‘‘The children had been referred to Youth Aid Services and would be followed up by our youth engagement teams,’’ Hamilton city area commander Inspector Andrea McBeth said. ‘‘It is important to note that resolving this type of youth offending is an issue that does not fall solely on police.’’

Meanwhile, in Auckland a 12-year-old female was in the driver’s seat of the getaway vehicle after a theft at a dairy in Grey Lynn.

A duffle bag of cigarettes was later recovered by police following the robbery.

The car was followed by a police helicopter as it exited the Southern Motorway at Mt Wellington, before the getaway driver lost control of the vehicle in wet conditions and crashed into a tree.