Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Four youths have been arrested after two robberies were carried out in less than an hour in Auckland this morning, with a vehicle fleeing at speed along a city motorway.
Fog cannons were activated at both of the stores targeted today, with the offenders stealing cigarettes.
Inspector Jason Homan said the first robbery occurred at a shop on Mahia Road in Manurewa at about 9:20am.
He said the four people who entered the shop were armed with weapons, but left with nothing when a fog cannon and panic alarm were triggered.
Less than an hour later, at 10:10am, three people entered another store about 40 kilometres away on Henderson Valley Road in West Auckland, armed with a tyre iron.
Homan said they jumped over the counter while the shopkeepers were in a back room and stole some cigarettes, with a fog cannon also activating.
The vehicle was then seen on cameras driving along Great North Road in Glen Eden, where they were spotted by the Eagle helicopter.
Road spikes were deployed, but failed to stop the vehicle, which then fled at speed along the Southwestern motorway, before exiting at Puhinui Road.
The vehicle was abandoned at Ngāti Ōtara Park, but dog units were able track the four occupants, who were then taken into custody.
Homan said charges were now being considered.