Northland news briefs: January 23

Boy, 14, on theft charges

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with stealing from three Whangarei stores. Sergeant Neil Pennington said the boy was caught in a Cameron St store about 3pm on Sunday with a pair of jeans stuffed down his trousers. Mr Pennington said the boy had allegedly stolen from two other city stores.

Cleaner's truck stolen

A council contractor's truck was stolen while the cleaner was at work inside a Paihia loo. The brazen theft took place on Friday morning at Ti Beach. Kerikeri police Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said the truck was recovered undamaged an hour later in Kerikeri but the worker's bag had been taken. Mr Robinson appealed for information about the thief, who was described as a clean-shaven, slightly built male Maori aged 17-22, with wavy hair down to his collar. Call (09) 407 9211.

Brother accused

Brotherly love went out the window at an Onerahi home on Saturday when a brother allegedly assaulted the other.

Whangarei police Sergeant John Larkin said a 20-year-old man and his 24-year-old brother got into an argument at a Ross St home about 2pm. Mr Larkin said the younger man allegedly knocked his brother out after punching him four times to the head. The younger brother was charged with assault.

Honey Jam winner

New Whangarei resident Lea Bradley is the winner of an Advocate competition offering a double-pass to this weekend's Honey Jam Festival, over two days at Te Kowhai Pt near Kerikeri. Ms Bradley, who is originally from Christchurch and has lived in Whangarei for the past year, said it would be her first music festival in Northland.