Five Auckland men will appear in Auckland District Court today charged with aggravated robbery on a group of friends parked in cars in Stonefields, Auckland.
Around 9.17pm on Tuesday evening, five offenders driving a red Mazda hatchback approached the group of friends who were parked in Barbarich Drive, Stonefields. Police do not believe this was a random incident.
The five offenders allegedly got out of their vehicles and presented several firearms at the vehicle, but no shots were fired. Two of the victims were physically assaulted.
The offenders forced all five victims out of the cars and ordered them to lie on the ground. They then stole various items of property from the victims, before fleeing in the red hatchback.
A number of searches involving AOS were carried out at residential addresses across Auckland yesterday, including one at Pt England at around 4.30pm.
A number of firearms and stolen property were also recovered.
Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Baldwin, of Auckland Police, says that within 24 hours of the aggravated robbery all five offenders were arrested and charged. “Coordinated and clever policing meant we were able to arrest all offenders the day after it happened – that’s an excellent result.”
The offenders, aged between 18-years-old and 21-years-old, will appear in Auckland District Court today. As the matter is before the Courts Police are unable to comment further.
ENDS
Upper North Police Media Centre