North Shore Police

A 22 year old male is currently under police guard at hospital after crashing a vehicle that had been stolen a short time earlier in a robbery in Freemans Bay.

At about 4.00pm on the 14th of August 2010, a member of the public was driving his vehicle on Curran Street, Freemans Bay, approaching the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

A male, unknown to the victim, approached the car, opened the door and forced the victim from his car. The male then drove onto the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

He was followed by a witness who reported the suspect's movements to Police. The witness followed the stolen car to Glenfield. A police patrol saw the vehicle driving on a road in Glenfield, and signalled the driver to stop. The driver sped away in an attempt to evade Police, and a short pursuit followed along Glenfield Road, onto Albany Highway.

The driver of the stolen vehicle crashed into a traffic light on the intersection on Upper Harbour Drive and Albany Highway. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

The offending driver was taken into Police custody, and is being guarded at hospital, while being treated for non-life threatening injuries sustained during the crash. He will face a number of charges arising from the incident.

The victim of the robbery was unharmed, but shaken by the events.