Police will hold a brief stand-up outside the Henderson Police Station at 7pm, following this afternoon’s robbery which resulted in a pursuit across parts of Auckland and a footchase by multiple officers.
Five people are now in custody following the incident, which began at 3.13pm with a violent robbery on the North Shore.
Three people were working in an electronics shop on Sunnybrae Road in Hillcrest, when five masked offenders ran into the shop, one was armed with an axe and the others were armed with metal bars.
The staff were threatened with the swinging axe and the metal bars, and the axe was smashed into the desk in front of one of the workers. Glass display cabinets were smashed and electrical items were stolen.
An employee was shoved to the ground and kicked and punched about the head and face. He will be seen by medical staff but is not believed to be seriously injured.
The offenders fled into the car, driven by a sixth person.
A witness managed to provide Police with the registration of the vehicle and this was broadcast immediately to all Police units. The vehicle was stolen.
A short time later a patrol car saw the car heading towards west Auckland. The officer followed the car at a distance and at Westgate, Police signalled for the driver to stop, but he failed to do so and continued to drive. A pursuit was then initiated.
Over the next fifteen minutes, multiple Police units were involved and the vehicle continued to flee. Officers laid road spikes as the vehicle headed for Glen Eden.
The car was successfully spiked and the offenders dumped it at the Glen Eden shops and ran.
The majority headed for the train station but were chased by Police on foot. One officer chased the driver of the car for around 800 metres. Four were arrested.
A fifth person was arrested at residential property on West Coast Road a short time later. One person remains outstanding and enquiries to locate him are ongoing.
Police would like to thank the many members of the public who called with information during this incident and therefore helped to assist with these arrests.
ENDS
Beth Bates/NZ Police
Media: Please meet Inspector Kerry Watson outside the Henderson Police Station where he will hold a brief stand-up providing more detail.