Just days after colleagues urged Eastern Waikato residents to practice capable guardianship and report school aged children on the streets during class time, Hamilton Police are urging City business owners to help them help the community as well.

Hamilton Youth Aid Coordinator, Sergeant Scott Miller, says the call comes after an 11-year-old boy was dealt with by a Youth Project Officer and Child Case Manager.

"The boy was reported to be in an internet cafe in Garden Place last Wednesday, playing video games instead of being at school.

"The boy's father attempted to get him to come out on several occasions but the son refused. Police were called and it was established the boy had stolen $150 from a boarder at his home and used the money to enable certain computer functions and games in the cafe."

Scott says despite the boy being of small stature and looks the internet cafe worker wasn't concerned about him being there during school hours.

"The worker also wasn't troubled that the money he spent was stolen and refused to return the funds and the family had to take money from their food budget to reimburse their boarder.

"Our message as Police is that the cafe needs to take some social responsibility and consider the impact of allowing school aged children into their premises during school hours unchallenged."

Scott says to not do this invites continuing truancy by young people and potentially further victimisation from crime.

"Ten days ago we spoke about the need for capable guardians and asked people to report suspicious activity involving youths after a number of burglaries in Matamata. Today we ask the same thing of people in Hamilton, if you see something not right then do something, and that's ring 111."

Source: Waikato Police.