As stated by: Inspector Phil Edwards, Bay of Plenty Area Commander
Police are asking for the public's help following the arrest of a gang member who fled Police then stole a vehicle in Taupo today.
Police are asking for any motorist who might have dashcam footage of this morning's incident. It occurred between Tūrangi on State Highway 1 and Pohokura on State Highway 5 (Napier-Taupō Road) between 8.50am and 10am.
Police first tried to stop the vehicle in Tūrangi for suspicious behaviour, but the man fled Police, heading north towards Taupo.
Police were able to deploy spikes near Waitahanui Bridge, State Highway 1, disabling the first vehicle.
The man decamped, then approached a commercial vehicle. He pulled the occupant - who was uninjured - from the driver's seat and fled again, first toward Taupō airport then along State Highway 5.
He exceeded speeds of more than 130km and regularly drove on the wrong side of the road. In one instance, he travelled more that 5.5km on the wrong side of the road.
Units from Taupō and Hawke's Bay were deployed, with the second vehicle spiked approximately 9km south of Pohokura on State Highway 5.
The man was taken into custody just before 10am.
Police did an excellent job in resolving this offending as quickly and safely as possible.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage is encouraged to contact Police via 105 online or by calling 105. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Please reference case 260817/5917
Charges are pending.
