Five young people will face the justice system after the burglary of a store in Maraetai, East Auckland this morning.
Police were notified at around 5.33am that a commercial address on Maraetai School Road had been burgled.
A member of the public who witnessed the burglary reported that a group of offenders had fled the scene in a vehicle, telling Police they saw it heading south, towards Whitford.
Inspector Rod Honan, Counties Manukau East Area Commander, says Police were then able to track the vehicle, which was soon confirmed to have been stolen.
"At this time, the Police Eagle helicopter was able to observe the stolen vehicle from long range, as it was driven westwards across Tāmaki Makaurau through Otara, and onto the Southwestern Motorway.
"The vehicle has exited the motorway at Massey Road in Māngere, and eventually stopped at Forbury Place, where Eagle observed five people exiting the vehicle carrying items," Inspector Honan says.
Police staff in the area were quickly on the scene and eventually arrested all five alleged offenders, including two from an address on Forbury Place.
"Unfortunately, one of the people arrested has violently kicked out at our Police staff and made threatening remarks towards them. Thankfully, none of our officers were injured," Inspector Honan says.
The youngest of the five alleged offenders arrested was aged 16, the oldest was 18.
Inspector Honan says Police recovered an amount of cash and tobacco products from the burglary and are considering charges.
"This was great work this morning by Police staff from across different areas of Tāmaki Makaurau, all working together to hold offenders to account.
"These results should reassure the community that we have absolutely no tolerance for this type of offending," he says.
