Three Balclutha children have been referred to police youth aid after a Balclutha house was "trashed" while its owners were away.
Sergeant Martin Bull, of Balclutha, said the two 11-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl "made one hell of a mess" at the house on Monday.
"They have got in there just trashed the place," he said.
Furniture was ripped up, clothes tossed out, eggs thrown around the house, tomato sauce squirted on furniture and throughout the house and crockery smashed, and there was "a horrible smell of vinegar" lingering there, too, Sgt Bull said.
Initially, police feared a shotgun had been taken from the house but discovered the house owner had left it at a friend's address.
Police executed a search warrant for other missing property at a Balclutha house and several items were recovered there.
Sgt Bull said the three gave no excuse for their behaviour.
They had all been referred to the youth aid section. The house owners are still away and the property is being looked after by friends.
The full cost of the damage was unclear.
