An early morning burglary in East Auckland triggered a 90-minute high-speed dash across the city, with three teens taken into custody after weaving in and out of traffic 鈥 at times on the wrong side of the road 鈥 in an attempt to evade arrest.
Police were alerted to an active burglary taking place on Moore St, Howick, around 5.30am, after a member of the public saw three people breaking into a store through smashed windows.
The group reportedly threatened a witness with a weapon before fleeing in a stolen vehicle, taking 鈥渁 number of electronic goods鈥 with them, said Acting Detective Inspector Chris Robson of Counties Manukau.
Police said they quickly located the stolen Toyota Aqua on Chapel Rd in East Tamaki, but the suspects fled at high speed.
The Eagle helicopter tracked the vehicle as it travelled through 艑tara and Flat Bush before heading on to the Southern Motorway, Robson said.
鈥淔or the next hour, the vehicle has been driven dangerously on the wrong side of the road and at speed, weaving in and out of traffic through Waitemat膩 and back through to Counties Manukau before it was successfully spiked on Redoubt Rd,鈥 he said.
The 90-minute pursuit began after police were alerted to a trio of teens allegedly burgling an electronics store on Moore St, Howick.
The vehicle came to a stop on Diorella Dr in Clover Park, where three teenagers aged 14 and 15 were arrested.
One of teenagers was taken to hospital after being bitten by a police dog during the arrest.
Charges are now being considered for the three teenagers.
鈥淚 acknowledge all the staff involved this morning who worked together to apprehend these offenders,鈥 Robson said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also a reminder that quick reporting and providing as much detail as possible greatly assists us in being able to stop offenders in their tracks.鈥
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeart app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeart is easy to use and all FREE