Quick action by Northland Police has landed four people before the courts following an aggravated robbery last night.
At around 9.35pm, Police received a report of four masked offenders entering a service station on Western Hills Drive, Whang¨¡rei.
Whang¨¡rei Area Commander, Inspector Maria Nordstrom, says the alleged offenders entered the store and threatened the attendant before taking a number of items and fleeing in a stolen vehicle.
¡°The vehicle was quickly picked up by staff, who signalled for the driver to stop.
¡°They have failed to do so and Police have initiated a pursuit.¡±
Inspector Nordstrom says the vehicle continued to flee from Police before it was successfully spiked while heading north on Western Hills Drive, Kensington.
¡°The group has then dumped the vehicle and fled on foot onto Bank Street where Delta has quickly taken three people into custody.
¡°The Police dog unit has then spent 20 minutes tracking the fourth offender, which resulted in another arrest,¡± she says.
¡°This is a fantastic result, with the youths apprehended in minutes and all stolen property recovered.
¡°We also understand how distressing incidents like these are for victims and we hope these arrests will help provide reassurance to both the victims in this case and to the community.¡±
A 17-year-old will appear in Whang¨¡rei Youth Court charged with failing to stop, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and aggravated robbery.
An 18-year-old charged with aggravated robbery and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle will appear in Whang¨¡rei District Court today.
A 17-year-old charged with aggravated robbery and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle will appear in Whang¨¡rei Youth Court today
An 18-year-old will appear in Whang¨¡rei Youth Court charged with aggravated robbery and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/51½ÖÉä