A man has been arrested in Auckland after allegedly threatening members of the public with a speargun and stealing a vehicle.
Police said the man arrived at a house on Wyllie Rd in the suburb of Papatoetoe and attempted to open the front door just before lunchtime.
Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey said he was unsuccessful and left.
“He walked towards a neighbouring driveway where a woman was driving out in her vehicle. The man allegedly pointed a spear gun at the woman but, fortunately, she locked her doors and quickly drove away.”
The man then continued to nearby Hillcrest Rd where he approached another member of the public’s car.
“The driver was demanded to hand over his keys, which escalated when the spear gun was allegedly pointed at the frightened man,” Albrey said.
The man then allegedly fled in the victim’s vehicle towards Manukau, with the Police Eagle helicopter responding to track its movements, locating the vehicle on Cavendish Dr.
“Eagle was watching overhead when the spear gun was thrown from the vehicle, and directed another unit to retrieve it,” Albrey said.
Spikes were deployed on Beatty Ave in Manurewa, where the man was taken into custody.
The 42-year-old man will appear in the Manukau District Court tomorrow, facing charges of aggravated robbery and attempts aggravated robbery.