Man convicted of aggravated burglary after threatening teen with knife
Monday 12 October 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated 
Dylan Rex Riosa has been convicted of aggravated burglary following an incident in January. Riosa entered a home and threatened a 13-year-old with a knife before stealing the boy's e-scooter. He claimed he needed the transport to avoid breaching his curfew.
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Dylan Rex Riosa was convicted in the Nelson District Court of aggravated burglary. The conviction follows an incident on 7 January this year where Riosa threatened a 13-year-old boy with a knife before fleeing on the boy's e-scooter.
The court heard that Riosa, who was shirtless and had three dragon tattoos on his back, entered the home while the teenager was sitting on a couch. The victim testified that an angry Riosa stood a few metres away and pointed a knife, which resembled a hunting knife or steak knife, at him. Riosa reportedly asked for the location of the teenager's stepfather before leaving on the e-scooter.
Riosa's defence argued he had mistaken the house for his brother's residence and only took the scooter because he was nearing his 7pm curfew while on community detention. However, Judge Garry Barkle found the teenager's account more credible and was satisfied the knife had been in Riosa's backpack when he entered the house. CCTV footage showed Riosa entering the property and departing on the e-scooter less than a minute later.
Compiled from reports by NZ Herald and Otago Daily Times.