Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Two teenagers have been arrested after fleeing police following a jewellery store robbery in Auckland.
On Tuesday, police found a vehicle of interest relating to an aggravated robbery of the jewellery store on Onehunga Mall earlier that day.
Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Armstrong said the robbery occurred at 4pm and a "large amount" of jewellery was stolen.
At 10pm, the vehicle that allegedly fled the scene was found in Papakura.
"Staff deployed into the area, locating the vehicle travelling through Manurewa and Eagle was soon providing observations from overhead," Armstrong said.
"Police attempted to stop this vehicle on Roscommon Road, but it drove away at speed and was not pursued."
Armstrong said while being watched from the air, the vehicle hit another vehicle, resulting in a minor collision but no injuries.
Spikes were deployed on the South-Western Motorway but the vehicle continued to travel in an "erratic" manner, and exited at Massey Road.
Spikes were again deployed near the Mt Wellington Highway.
Police chased the vehicle towards Pakuranga and Armstrong said it was being "driven extremely erratically and fortunately no members of the public suffered any harm".
The vehicle being chased collided with barriers at the intersection of Ti Rikau Drive and Reeves Road and the chase ended.
"These offenders approached another member of the public's vehicle; however, our staff quickly got the pair, aged 15 and 17, into custody.
"We have also recovered a large amount of jewellery in the vehicle."
The 17-year-old male has now been charged with aggravated robbery, dangerous driving, failing to stop and two counts of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
"He has also been charged in connection with a violent attempted robbery at a Mt Albert sports bar on 22 June.
"Those charges include four counts of aggravated wounding, assault with intent to rob, committing a burglary with a weapon and assault."
The 15-year-old has been charged with aggravated robbery and two counts of unlawfully taking of a motor vehicle.
They are both expected to appear in Auckland Youth Court on Wednesday, and police will be opposing the older teen's bail.
Armstrong said the alleged actions and violence used were appalling.
"We will continue to actively investigate this sort of offending which causes a high level of harm to the business owners as well as the wider community."
