Police arrested five people within an hour after an aggravated burglary at a commercial premises in Albany on Friday.

Police say that about 11.20am, five people entered a store on The Avenue and began taking items when an altercation broke out.

The owner was assaulted and received minor injuries.

The offenders fled in a vehicle but were located by Police near the intersection of Queen Street and Coatesville-Riverhead Highway.

By 12pm, all five had been arrested.

Four young men, aged 17, 18, 18 and 21, have been charged with shoplifting.

A 21-year-old Manukau man has been charged with aggravated assault and shoplifting.

The 17-year-old will be referred to Youth Aid.

The other four are due to appear in the North Shore District Court on Monday.

Police say further work has linked three of the offenders to a shoplifting incident at a commercial premises in Riverhead near the end of October.

Two males have been charged, with a third person referred to Youth Aid.

Waitematā East Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Caroline Miles said: “It’s a great feeling knowing the alleged offenders have been caught, especially in less than an hour.”

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