Source: Radio New Zealand
Police at the scene. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Four teenagers have been charged over an Auckland home invasion that resulted in a high-speed chase across the city, ending on Karangahape Road with a forced stop.
The accused – aged between 15 and 17 – are due to appear in the Manukau Youth Court on Wednesday.
They face charges of aggravated burglary and the driver has been charged with assaulting a person with a blunt instrument and failing to stop.
It started with an alleged armed home invasion in the sleepy eastern suburb of Howick and ended with police forcing a stolen ute to stop on Auckland’s Karangahape Road.
Manukau area commander Shanan Gray said four people, one armed with a machete, carried out the home invasion in Howick before stealing a white Ford ute and heading south, shortly after 3pm on Tuesday.
The superintendent said the ute reached high speeds and drove dangerously, sometimes on the wrong side of the road, as the four people made their way through Manukau and Ōtara.
Police inspect a Ford ute at the scene. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
The police helicopter watched from above and Gray said at times, the ute crashed into cars and rammed patrol cars as they headed into the city.
Members of the police armed offenders squad (AOS) joined in the chase and a sponge round was fired.
Gray said a police dog was also used in the arrest.
The drama unfolded in the afternoon as commuters began making their way home from work.
A shopkeeper who only wanted to be known as Dave said the ute was heading into oncoming traffic when it was stopped.
“It was like full speed, boom. And the cop’s car … it just hit from the side. At that moment one guy jumped from the car with his hands up.”
A crashed car at the scene. Kim Baker Wilson/RNZ
A bridal shop worker, Jessie, was talking with a client when she heard two collisions outside on the street and what sounded like an explosion and a gun shot.
“I saw this white ute that had seemingly been the one that had crashed earlier, a bunch of men all kind of piled out of the car and all kind of got down on their stomachs…
“It had clearly been a police chase that had been going on for a while, because there were lots of police cars and police on them right away, and police dogs as well,” she said.
The worker said she was pretty shaken and locked the doors to their shop.
“We’re definitely kind of accustomed to some craziness happening outside on K’Road, so we’re definitely quick to lock our doors on occasions to keep our team and customers safe.
“But yeah, definitely nothing like this has ever happened before.”
Two other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Kim Baker Wilson/RNZ
She said one of the vehicles that the white ute crashed into looked like it had a young couple in, but she said they looked unhurt.
“It is extremely lucky that the reckless behaviour of these individuals did not result an anyone suffering serious injuries.”
Gray said two of the accused needed hospital treatment following the events.
“The victim of the aggravated burglary in Howick was shaken by the violent event that took place and has been provided support.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
