Two boxes of beer were taken from the Bottle-O before the four people made their getaway on a bus. Photo / Google Maps
Two people were allegedly found in possession of machetes, the police spokesperson said.
Photos posted to social media showed police swarming lower Queen St, with at least seven police cars and many officers on the scene.
A red CityLink bus can be seen blocked by the patrol cars.
A machete with a black handle is pictured lying on the footpath.
A machete was seen lying on the group near an officers feet during the arrest
In one image, a man in a white singlet can be seen sitting on a bench in handcuffs while police speak to him.
A police spokesperson said a 22-year-old had been charged with shoplifting.
A 17-year-old was charged with breach of bail.
Auckland Transport has been approached for comment.
It comes just a month after a man was charged after two “unprovoked” stabbings on an Auckland bus that left one man dead.
The stabbings took place Auckland Transport’s number 76 bus as it travelled from Glen Innes towards Ōrakei on December 8.
The man appeared in court on December 10, charged with the murder of “gentle giant” Sefo Leger and wounding a second passenger.
Leger managed to get off the bus but died in hospital from his injuries. The suspected attacker stayed on the bus and allegedly attacked another man, who later needed surgery on his hand.
If convicted, the defendant could face up to 14 years in prison on the wounding charge and life imprisonment on the charge of murder.