Several Palmerston youths aged between 13 and 17 face a raft of charges connected with a spate of offending over several weeks in August and September.
Palmerston officer in charge Constable Stefan Witehira said the alleged offences included burglary, wilful damage and car conversion.
Some of the youths were referred to Youth Aid.
It was alleged East Otago High School was entered and keys for a Holden Barina taken from an office.
The car was driven to Dunedin and back, with the car and keys being returned later the same night.
Police say the car was used in this way several times.
Then six youths allegedly used skateboards inside the school's D. G. Murray Hall and one youth allegedly let off a fire extinguisher in the hall, Const Witehira said .
A truck cab parked at the Otago Transport yard had its windows smashed, causing about $2000 damage, two windows were smashed on the old Butterfly and Bird Haven and security lights at the Palmerston Primary School were smashed.
On September 14, a 14-year-old male was arrested on Stour St after being seen smashing a bottle.
He now faces several charges and he and two other boys, aged 13 and 14, admitted they had taken the school car several times, Const Witehira said.
