School holiday's historically sees an increase in juvenile related incidents and often it's because teenagers and young people have too much time on their hands.

Police are now asking parents, caregivers and guardians to make sure their young charges are 'gainfully and lawfully engaged over these school holidays.

Police are asking all parents, caregivers and guardians to ensure their young ones and teenagers are keeping out of mischief these school holidays. Photo: File

Senior Sergeant Neil Faulkner says a number of issues had come to light, indicating that at least some offending was linked to bored teenagers.

Over in Hamilton there were two burglaries recently where electronic items were taken.

'In one case a young deaf girl was asleep when offenders have broken into a home and ransacked it and she didn't hear the intruders.”

Neil says with young people having more time on their hands over the holidays, sometimes getting up to mischief is tempting.

A number of first time offenders, some as young as nine, have also been carrying out opportunistic burglaries during the day.

'We need people to exercise capable guardianship,” says Neil. 'Have your teenagers plan activities or discuss what options they have.

'TV, video games and shopping malls can't replace good parenting and feedback from across the district indicates the problem is not just a city one.”

On Wednesday police received reports of three juveniles driving dangerously in a stolen car in Ngaruawahia.

While officers in Thames and Te Awamutu also reported groups congregating around local shopping malls making a nuisance of themselves.

Neil is asking locals to be vigilant about people acting suspiciously and if they see something then 'do something” and call 111.

'Your call can make all the difference and prevent you, or your neighbour becoming a victim of crime.”