The Taranaki Daily News is carrying a story about an amazing little girl who phoned police whilst a gang of robbers held a gun to her Dad’s head. Just look at the ages of the thugs responsible – the youngest was only 14, not much older than the girl herself. Police managed to catch them but her father thinks that teenagers are dealt with too leniently in New Zealand, his business has been robbed numerous times over the last 4 years:

“A 10-year-old girl kept her cool and rang police while a gang of teenage robbers held a gun at her father’s head.

Five youths, two aged 17 and three aged 14, burst into the Belt Rd Dairy in New Plymouth about 6.30pm on Sunday and threatened the owner with what appeared to be a pistol.

Owner Ben Sun praised his quick-thinking daughter yesterday.

“She went out the back and rung the police and told them what was happening,” Mr Sun said.

He was pleased the offenders were caught quickly but believed teenagers were dealt with too softly in New Zealand.

His eight-year-old son didn’t want the family working in the dairy any more.

“He says it is not safe,” Mr Sun said.

The business has been robbed numerous times during the past four years.

New Plymouth CIB Detective Sergeant Greg Gray said the group grabbed a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco and cash before leaving the shop…more“

It’s been a bad few days for dairies in New Zealand, with another shop in Palmerston North also robbed by armed kids yesterday. That was attributed to the recent hike in tobacco tax.