Arrests after axe break-in

Three men have been arrested after breaking into an Auckland service station with an axe.

Photo: Google Maps / Screenshot

Police said five men arrived at the service station on East Coast Road on the North Shore in a stolen car, at about 4am.

When they smashed the front doors with an axe, a sole staff member activated a smoke screen defence system before raising the alarm from a locked room.

The men stole cigarettes before driving around the corner and abandoning the car.

They then got into a second vehicle, which was found by officers shortly after, police said.

Two managed to run away while three people were taken into custody.