Cook Islands Police are investigating a burglary at the Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco Centre, destroying the camera system, taking cans of coke and emptying the tip jar on Saturday.

Police media and strategic advisor Trevor Pitt said police received the burglary complaint on Saturday at 5.46pm. 

Pitt said the break-in was through the rear door and stolen items include cans of drink, coins, foodstuffs.

Yesterday, the Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco Centre alerted Arorangi residents through their social media page.

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

“They have damaged the back gate into our rescue area and jemmied (forced open) the internal door open gaining access to the front of house where they have taken cans of coke, lemonade, cans of whipped cream, grapes and silver coins and emptied the tip jar for rescue animals.

"Additionally they have destroyed the camera system and put some of our fresh water fish into the salt water touch pool. They took the drinks to the back of the property where they spent time drinking them and smashing the remainder onto the rocks.”
The Centre added that eyewitnesses at the beach area claimed they are aged between 12 and 14 and another eye witness claimed they saw the three boys on bikes near the Centre at that time had Apii Nikao sports shirts on.

The Centre says they may have video footage of these kids and hoped to access it.