By Leanne Malcolm
Boys from a posh private school in Melbourne have gone home in disgrace but without convictions after a shoplifting spree in Queenstown.
The 16 teenagers stole expensive ski jackets and souvenirs from shops in the central business area, but a shop assistant caught them with their teachers, waiting for a bus.
Australian tourists are big business for Queenstown in winter, but this group of visiting school boys made a bad impression on local retailers, stealing $6000 worth of clothes and souvenirs.
"They just looked a little bit shifty," says sales assistant Kate Long. "A lot of the time you get young lads on holiday and they look high-spirited and things, but these guys just looked a little bit more edgy."
When she noticed they were spending a long time in the changing rooms, the assistant went to check and found security tags from jackets lying on the floor.
Two boys ran off and another staff member chased them. When he got to a bus stop across the road, he discovered a pupil wearing a stolen jacket.
Teachers were immediately informed.
"I think the teachers dealt with it really professionally," says Ms Long. "They were really good with us and really cooperative."
The jackets had their security tags ripped or cut off them, so staff at R and R Sport insisted the school pay for the gear - $1700 worth.
It wasn't until much later that staff realised their store was not the only one targeted.
"People tend to respect this place for what it is - it's a beautiful place where people have a lot of fun so we don't expect it, and we feel let down," says Ms Long.
The 16 boys had spent an otherwise trouble-free week in Queenstown, skiing and enjoying adventure activities while staying at a resort in Frankton.
"They've been here all week and they've been excellent students in the sense of their behaviour and we've enjoyed looking after them, so we're in shock here that something like this has happened," says Penny Clark, hotel manager.
The schoolboys were lucky to get off this time. Had the retailers realised just how widespread the offending was, they would have pushed harder for charges to be laid.
But say they were constrained by the Young Persons Act in how they dealt with the young offenders, and previous incidents of young Aussies shoplifting in Queenstown have only resulted in warnings.
"They were given a formal warning which was appropriate even though it is a reasonably serious offence," says Sgt Steve Watt. "We managed to get all the property back and it was their first time offending whilst in New Zealand."
And they say the students were very remorseful.
"Once they'd realise the gravity and seriousness of the offence and made to call home, they were extremely emotional and tearful."
The principal of Xavier College has already announced strong disciplinary measures for the group, and Queenstown businesses say Australians are as welcome as ever to visit this winter.
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