Police have taken seven youths into custody following a fleeing driver incident in east Auckland early this morning.
Counties Manukau East Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rakana Cook, says a Police unit noticed a suspicious vehicle in Panmure just before 2.30am.
¡°The vehicle was not signalled to stop, but on seeing Police, the driver has taken off at speed.
¡°Police did not pursue, however, the Eagle Helicopter was deployed to observe of the vehicle as it headed towards Pakuranga.
¡°Eagle relayed the vehicle¡¯s position to Police ground units, who successfully deployed road spikes on Ti Rakau Drive.¡±
At this point, the vehicle has come to a stop and all seven occupants ran into nearby bush.
¡°They soon ran into trouble though ¡ª they came up against a high fence that proved impossible to climb and were forced to return to the roadside,¡± Inspector Cook says.
¡°We were then able to take all seven into custody without further issue.¡±
The vehicle was confirmed as having been stolen in Weymouth and was recovered for its owner.
All the alleged offenders were youths aged between 11 and 15.?
A 15-year-old is due to appear in the Manukau Youth Court today charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle and escaping lawful custody.
Youth Aid files are being prepared for the other six youths taken into custody.
¡°A number of Police resources were deployed quickly and safely to the area in order to apprehend these offenders,¡± Inspector Cook says.
¡°Incidents like this are not just a concern for the Police but also for the public in that it¡¯s invasive, frustrating and needs to stop.¡±
ENDS.
Tony Wright/51½ÖÉä
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