Six young people who were playing with BB guns have been let off with a warning after sending an Auckland mall into lockdown.
Glenfield Mall. Photo: Facebook / Glenfield Mall
Armed police rushed to Glenfield Mall around 8pm after a report a person had what appeared to be a firearm.
Instead, police say officers found a group of youth in an underground car park with three toy guns.
The six young people were taken into custody and the BB guns were recovered by police.
Police soon let the youths off with a warning.
Police said the mall went into lockdown on its own accord.
Many customers reacted on social media to the scare.
"Everyone avoid Glenfield mall at all costs and all surrounding areas," one wrote on Facebook. "We've just left there as we were trying to enter we were informed by the mall security that (there) are gunman on the ground floor."
Shanan Halbert, the MP for Nortcote, also reacted on his official Facebook page.
"I am pleased that no one has been hurt but it is very frightening for the public Glenfield community. Thank you to our police for acting swiftly on this."