Waikato Police say six people, including two young children, had a horrifying start to the day in Kihikihi this morning when a man armed with a firearm burst into their home, threatened them and stole a car.
Detective Senior Sergeant Daryl Smith of the Waikato CIB said the incident began about 9am with reports of a burglary of a Whitmore St address.
"Officers from the nearby Te Awamutu Police Station attended what, at first, appeared to be a fairly routine job but it very quickly became anything but that.
"While at the address they've encountered a man who, when asked to stop, instead fled. Chasing the man on foot, one of our two officers were suddenly confronted by him brandishing a firearm."
Mr Smith said the officer backed away to await assistance while the offender made off through adjoining properties.
"The offender has fled across nearby Whitmore St, run through a property, scaled a fence and come to a Hall St property where he entered the home and confronted the occupants, taking the keys to one of their cars.
"That car, a silver 2003 Honda Accord station wagon, registration number GJE327, is believed to have a white sticker on its rear window with the words "Train Station," on it. Locating this vehicle is crucial to our case and we urge anyone who sees the vehicle not to approach it or its occupants, but to call 111."
Mr Smith said the key to locating the offender was in receiving timely, accurate information of sightings but if people weren't comfortable speaking to Police directly, information can be left anonymously with the independent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
"The key thing right now is to identify and locate this offender and to get the victims of this morning's incident the help and support they need."
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