A man has been arrested after a 40km spree in stolen cars across south and east Auckland this morning.
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Police said a man was behaving erratically in the suburb of Mount Wellington about 8.40am, reportedly following a family harm incident.
Senior sergeant Graeme Fleming of Counties Manukau Police said a blue Holden Commodore was reportedly driving dangerously in the Ōtāhuhu area on Great South Road, and continued through Papatoetoe and Ōtara.
The vehicle collided with a motorcycle and injured the rider at the intersection of Te Irirangi Dr and Dawson Rd, Clover Park.
Police believe the driver continued down Dawson Road then crashed into another vehicle, but jumped out and stole another vehicle.
The driver then crashed again in the Murphys Road area and proceeded to steal another vehicle.
He continued to drive dangerously toward the Howick area before being involved in another crash at the intersection of Bleakhouse Road and Ridge Road about 10am.
The man tried to steal another car, but was located and taken into custody by police in Howick after calls from the public.
"The man was driving dangerously at excessive speeds that caused serious risk to the public and it is incredibly fortunate that nobody was seriously injured," Mr Fleming said.
Anyone who witnessed the man's driving or were involved in any of the incidents are being urged to contact police.