Stephanie Jansen from the Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco Centre in Arorangi has thanked the members of the public who have shown their support after news of a burglary at the centre was shared on social media.

An image of one of the culprits was shared on social media yesterday.

Jansen said one of the suspects had a white hoodie, while the one pictured above wore a black hoodie prior to putting a bucket on his head.

While police continue to investigate the burglary, Jansen says she was most upset about their fish.

The alleged teenage boys are said to have put some of the marine centre’s fresh water fish into the saltwater touch pool.

“I’m most upset about our fish to be honest,” she said.

Police media and strategic advisor Trevor Pitt had said police received the burglary complaint on Saturday at 5.46pm. The break-in was through the rear door and stolen items include cans of drink, coins and foodstuff.

The centre said that between 3.15pm and 5 pm the Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco Centre was broken into, by three teenage boys riding push bikes.

They are alleged to have damaged the back gate into the rescue area and jemmied (forced) open the internal door gaining access to the front of house where they took cans of Coke, lemonade, cans of whipped cream, grapes and silver coins from the tip jar for rescue animals.

They also damaged the camera system.

Meanwhile, in the weekend, police arrested a 47-year old male in connection with a charge of indecent assault arising from an incident reported on early Saturday morning.

Police spokesman Trevor Pitt said that domestic disturbances kept Police stretched this weekend, on top of arrests, burglary and assaults.

Pitt said there was one complaint of domestic violence that brought a charge of assault on a female against a 28 year-old male on early Sunday morning.

Another assault complaint was from a reported altercation in a nightclub early on Saturday morning, involving visitors.

Pitt said the trouble extended to a hotel following the incident with police following up the complaint during Saturday.

Other police reports included a crash involving two motorbikes.

The crash was reported in Friday at 8.45pm on the back road of Takuvaine, involving two motorcyclists, a 16 year-old and a 25 year-old. An ambulance was requested.

There were also two alert calls for bushfires and a pig was shot wandering through a plantation.

Pitt added that police are continuing to work under enormous pressures to fulfil their duties in maintaining law and order and keeping the public safe. 

He said some shifts including the busy Friday Night could only be sustained by two officers on the frontline. 

“Our Frontline Division is currently operating at more than 50 per cent reduction in staff numbers.”

Police are 46 staff short.