Four male youths were charged after a reported housebreaking in the Ellon Road area of Aberdeen.
Police were called to the incident at 3.20pm on Thursday.
A witness at the scene said the house looked empty and derelict.
They said: “The kids had school bags and maybe looked about 15.
“Two of them were led away in cuffs and the police were up and down the stairs next to the river looking for others.
“A third one was wrestled to the ground.”
Two police cars and two vans were pictured at the scene which is understood to have taken around 30 minutes to play out.
The witness saw four youths being bundled into vans before officers left the scene.
A police spokesman said: “Around 3.20pm on Thursday, June 22, we were called to a report of a housebreaking in the Ellon Road area of Aberdeen.
“Officers attended and four male youths were arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
“Reports will be sent to the youth justice management unit.”